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diff --git a/41487.txt b/41487.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3362ec3..0000000 --- a/41487.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,7715 +0,0 @@ - IAN HAMILTON'S MARCH - - - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost -no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it -under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: Ian Hamilton's March -Author: Winston Spencer Churchill -Release Date: November 17, 2012 [EBook #41487] -Language: English -Character set encoding: US-ASCII - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IAN HAMILTON'S MARCH *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - - -[Illustration: IAN HAMILTON. _From the Picture by_ John S. Sargent, -R.A.] - - - - - IAN HAMILTON'S MARCH - - - BY - WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL - - - - _WITH PORTRAIT, MAPS AND PLANS_ - - - - - TORONTO - THE COPP, CLARK COMPANY, LIMITED - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1900, BY - WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL - - _All rights reserved_ - - - - - THIS COLLECTION OF LETTERS - IS INSCRIBED TO - LIEUT-GENERAL IAN HAMILTON, C.B., D.S.O. - WITH WHOSE MILITARY ACHIEVEMENTS - IT IS LARGELY CONCERNED - - - - - PREFACE. - - -This book is a continuation of those letters to the _Morning Post_ -newspaper on the South African war, which have been lately published -under the title 'London to Ladysmith _via_ Pretoria.' Although the -letters had been read to some extent in their serial form, their -reproduction in a book has been indulgently regarded by the public; and -I am encouraged to repeat the experiment. - -The principal event with which the second series deals is the march of -Lieutenant-General Ian Hamilton's column on the flank of Lord Roberts's -main army from Bloemfontein to Pretoria. This force, which encountered -and overcame the brunt of the Boer resistance, which, far from the -railway, marched more than 400 miles through the most fertile parts of -the enemy's country, which fought ten general actions and fourteen -smaller affairs, and captured five towns, was, owing to the difficulties -of telegraphing, scarcely attended by a single newspaper correspondent, -and accompanied continuously by none. Little has therefore been heard -of its fortunes, nor do I know of anyone who is likely to write an -account. - -The letters now submitted to the public find in these facts their chief -claim to be reprinted. While written in the style of personal narrative -I have hitherto found it convenient to follow, they form a complete -record of the operations of the flank column from the day when Ian -Hamilton left Bloemfontein to attack the Waterworks position, until he -returned to Pretoria after the successful engagement of Diamond Hill. - -Although in an account written mainly in the field, and immediately -after the actual events, there must be mistakes, no care has been spared -in the work. The whole book has been diligently revised. Four letters, -which our long marches did not allow me to finish while with the troops, -have been added and are now published for the first time. The rest have -been lengthened or corrected by the light of after-knowledge and -reflection, and although the epistolary form remains, I hope the -narrative will be found to be fairly consecutive. - -I do not want the reader to think that the personal incidents and -adventures described in this book are extraordinary, and beyond the -common lot of those who move unrestricted about the field of war. They -are included in the narrative, not on account of any peculiar or -historic interest, but because this method is the easiest, and, so far -as my wit serves me, the best way of telling the story with due regard -at once to detail and proportion. - -In conclusion I must express my obligations to the proprietors of the -_Morning Post_ newspaper for the assistance they have given my -publishers in allowing them to set up the copy as each letter arrived -from the war; to the DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH, to whom I am indebted for the -details of the strength and composition of the force which will be found -in the Appendix, and for much assistance in the attempt to attain -accuracy; and thirdly, to MR. FRANKLAND, whose manly record of the heavy -days he passed as a prisoner in Pretoria may help to make this book -acceptable to the public. - -WINSTON SPENCER CHURCHILL. - -LONDON: -_September_ 10, 1900. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - -CHAPTER - - I. A Roving Commission - II. Exit General Gatacre - III. At Half-Way House - IV. Two Days with Brabazon - V. Two Days with Brabazon--*Continued* - VI. The Dewetsdorp Episode - VII. Ian Hamilton's March - VIII. Ian Hamilton - IX. The Action of Houtnek - X. The Army of the Right Flank - XI. Lindley - XII. Concerning a Boer Convoy - XIII. Action of Johannesburg - XIV. The Fall of Johannesburg - XV. The Capture Of Pretoria - XVI. "Held By The Enemy" - XVII. Action Of Diamond Hill - - - APPENDIX - -Composition of Lieut.-General Ian Hamilton's Force - - - - - PORTRAIT. - -IAN HAMILTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ - -_From the Picture by_ JOHN S. SARGENT, R.A. - - - - MAPS AND PLANS. - - -Operations in the Orange Free State, April, 1900 - -Diagram Explaining Hamilton's Action at Israel's Poorte, the 25th of -April - -Diagram Explaining French's Operations Round Thabanchu, the 25th and -27th of April - -Diagram Explaining the Action of Houtnek - -Diagram to Explain the Passage of the Sand River, 10th of May, 1900 - -Ian Hamilton's Action at the Sand River, 10th of May, 1900 - -Ian Hamilton's Action before Johannesburg - -Plan of the Operations of 11th and 12th of June, 1900 - -Diagram Explaining the Action of Diamond Hill - -Map of March from Bloemfontein to Pretoria _At end of book_ - - - - - IAN HAMILTON'S MARCH - - - - CHAPTER I - - A ROVING COMMISSION - - - In the train near Pieters, Natal: March 31. - - -Ladysmith, her garrison and her rescuers, were still recovering, the one -from the effects of long confinement, the other from over-exertion. All -was quiet along the Tugela except for the plashing of the waters, and -from Hunger's Poorte to Weenen no sound of rifle or cannon shot -disturbed the echoes. - -The war had rolled northward: the floods of invasion that had -isolated--almost overwhelmed--Ladysmith and threatened to submerge the -whole country had abated and receded, so that the Army of Natal might -spread itself out to feed and strengthen at its leisure and convenience -on the reconquered territory. - -Knox's (Ladysmith) Brigade went into camp at Arcadia, five miles west of -the town. Howard's (Ladysmith) Brigade retired to the breezy plains -south of Colenso. Clery's Division--for the gallant Clery, recovered -from his sickness, had displaced the gallant and successful -Lyttelton--moved north and encamped beyond Elandslaagte along the banks -of Sunday's River. Hunter's Division was disposed with one brigade at -Elandslaagte and one at Tinta Inyoni. Warren, whom it was no longer -necessary to send to the Cape Colony, established himself and his two -brigades north of Ladysmith, along the railway line to the Orange Free -State. Brocklehurst, with the remnants of what had once been almost a -Cavalry Division, and now could scarcely mount three squadrons, occupied -a neighbouring plain, sending his regiments one by one to Colenso, or -even Mooi River, to be re-horsed; and around all this great Army, -resting after its labours and preparing for fresh efforts, the Cavalry -brigades of Dundonald and Burn-Murdoch drew an immense curtain of -pickets and patrols which extended from Acton Homes in the east, through -Bester's Station right round to Wessels Nek and further still, and which -enabled the protected soldiers within to close their eyes by night and -stretch their legs by day. - -Meanwhile, the burghers had all retreated to the Drakensburg and the -Biggarsburg and other refuges, from which elevated positions they defied -intrusion or attack, and their scattered line stretched in a vast -crescent even around our widely extended front from the Tintwa Pass, -through Waschbank to Pomeroy. - -But with the exception of outpost skirmishes, wholly unimportant to -those not engaged in them, a strange peace brooded over Natal, and -tranquillity was intensified by the recollection of the struggle that -was over and the anticipation of the struggle that impended. It was a -lull in the storm. - -All this might be war, but it was not journalism. The tempest for the -moment had passed, and above the army in Natal the sky was monotonously -blue. It was true that dark clouds hung near the northern horizon, but -who should say when they would break? Not, at any rate, for three weeks, -I thought, and so resolved to fill the interval by trying to catch a -little of the tempest elsewhere. - -After the relief of Ladysmith four courses offered themselves to Sir -Redvers Buller. To stand strictly on the defensive in Natal and to send -Lord Roberts every gun and man who could be spared; to break into the -Free State by forcing Van Reenen's Pass or the Tintwa; to attack the -twelve thousand Boers in the Biggarsburg, clear Natal, and invade the -Transvaal through the Vryheid district; and, lastly, to unite and -reorganise and co-operate with Lord Roberts's main advance either by -striking west or north. - -Which course would be adopted? I made inquiries. Staff officers, bland -and inscrutable--it is wonderful how well men can keep secrets they have -not been told--continued to smile and smile. Brigadiers frankly -confessed their ignorance. The general-in-chief observed pleasantly -that he would 'go for' the enemy as soon as he was ready, but was -scarcely precise about when and where. - -It was necessary to go to more humble sources for truth, and after -diligent search I learned from a railway porter, or somebody like that, -that all attempts to repair the bridge across the Sunday's River had -been postponed indefinitely. This, on further inquiry, proved to be -true. - -Now, what does this mean? It means, I take it, that no direct advance -against the Biggarsburg is intended for some time; and as the idea of -reducing the Natal Army to reinforce the Cape Colony forces has been -definitely abandoned the western line of advance suggests itself. - -It would be absurd to force Van Reenen's Pass with heavy loss of life, -when by waiting until the main Army has reached, let us say, Kroonstad, -we could walk through without opposition; so that it looks very likely -that the Natal troops will do nothing until Lord Roberts's advance is -more developed, and that then they will enter the Free State and operate -in conjunction with him, all of which is strategy and common-sense -besides. At any rate there will be a long delay. - -Therefore, I said to myself, I will go to Bloemfontein, see all that may -be seen there and on the way, and rejoin the Natal Army when it comes -through the passes. Such was the plan, and the reader shall be a -witness of its abandonment. - -I left the camp of Dundonald's Brigade early in the morning of the 29th -of March, and riding through Ladysmith, round the hill on which stands -the battered convent, now serving as headquarters, and down the main -street, along which the relieving Army had entered the city, reached the -railway station and caught the 10 A.M. down train. - -We were delayed for a few minutes by the departure for Elandslaagte of a -train load of Volunteers, the first to reach the Natal Army, and the -officers hastened to look at these citizen soldiers. There were five -companies in all, making nearly a thousand men, fine looking fellows, -with bright intelligent eyes, which they turned inquiringly on every -object in turn, pointing and laughing at the numerous shell holes in the -corrugated iron engine sheds and other buildings of the station. - -A few regulars--sunburnt men, who had fought their way in with -Buller--sauntered up to the trucks, and began a conversation with the -reinforcement. I caught a fragment: 'Cattle trucks, are they? Well, -they didn't give us no blooming cattle trucks. No, no! We came into -Ladysmith in a first-class doubly extry Pullman car. 'Oo sent 'em? -Why, President ---- Kruger, of course,' whereat there was much laughter. - -I must explain that the epithet which the average soldier uses so often -as to make it perfectly meaningless, and which we conveniently express -by a ----, is always placed immediately before the noun it is intended -to qualify. For instance, no soldier would under any circumstances say -'---- Mr. Kruger has pursued a ---- reactionary policy,' but 'Mr. ---- -Kruger has pursued a reactionary ---- policy.' Having once voyaged for -five days down the Nile in a sailing boat with a company of Grenadiers, -I have had the best opportunities for being acquainted with these -idiomatic constructions, and I insert this little note in case it may be -useful to some of our national poets and minstrels. - -The train started across the well-known ground, and how fast and easily -it ran. Already we were bounding through the scrub in which a month -before Dundonald's leading squadrons, galloping in with beating hearts, -had met the hungry picket line. - -Intombi Spruit hospital camp was reached in a quarter of an hour. -Hospital camp no longer, thank goodness! Since the bridge had been -repaired the trains had been busy, and two days before I left the town -the last of the 2,500 sick had been moved down to the great hospital and -convalescent camps at Mooi River and Highlands, or on to the ships in -the Durban Harbour. Nothing remained behind but 100 tents and marquees, -a stack of iron cots, the cook houses, the drinking-water tanks, and 600 -graves. Ghastly Intombi had faded into the past, as a nightmare flies -at the dawn of day. - -We sped swiftly across the plain of Pieters, and I remembered how I had -toiled across it, some five months before, a miserable captive, casting -longing eyes at the Ladysmith balloon, and vigilantly guarded by the -Boer mounted escort. Then the train ran into the deep ravine between -Barton's Hill and Railway Hill, the ravine the Cavalry had 'fanned' on -the day of the battle, and, increasing its pace as we descended towards -the Tugela, carried us along the whole front of the Boer position. Signs -of the fighting appeared on every side. Biscuit tins flashed brightly -on the hill-side like heliographs. In places the slopes were -honey-combed with little stone walls and traverses, masking the -sheltering refuges of the Infantry battalions during the week they had -lain in the sun-blaze exposed to the cross-fire of gun and rifle. White -wooden crosses gleamed here and there among the thorn bushes. The dark -lines of the Boer trenches crowned the hills. The train swept by--and -that was all. - -I knew every slope, every hillock and accident of ground, as one knows -men and women in the world. Here was good cover. There was a dangerous -space. Here it was wise to stoop, and there to run. Behind that steep -kopje a man might scorn the shrapnel. Those rocks gave sure protection -from the flanking rifle fire. Only a month ago how much these things -had meant. If we could carry that ridge it would command those -trenches, and that might mean the hill itself, and perhaps the hill -would lead to Ladysmith. Only a month ago these things meant honour or -shame, victory or defeat, life or death. An anxious Empire and a -waiting world wanted to know about every one of them--and now they were -precisely what I have said, dark jumbled mounds of stone and scrub, with -a few holes and crevices scratched in them, and a litter of tin-pots, -paper, and cartridge cases strewn about. - -The train steamed cautiously over the temporary wooden bridge at Colenso -and ran into the open country beyond. On we hurried past the green -slope where poor Long's artillery had been shot to bits, past Gun Hill, -whence the great naval guns had fired so often, through Chieveley Camp, -or rather through the site of Chieveley Camp, past the wreck of the -armoured train--still lying where we had dragged it with such labour and -peril, just clear of the line--through Frere and Estcourt, and so, after -seven hours' journey, we came to Pietermaritzburg. - -An officer who was travelling down with me pointed out the trenches on -the signal hill above the town. - -'Seems queer,' he said, 'to think that the Boers might so easily have -taken this town. When we dug those trenches they were expected every -day, and the Governor, who refused to leave the capital and was going to -stick it out with us, had his kit packed ready to come up into the -entrenchments at an hour's notice.' - -It was very pleasant to know that those dark and critical days were -gone, and that the armies in the field were strong enough to maintain -the Queen's dominions against any further invasion; yet one could not -but recall with annoyance that the northern part of Natal was still in -the hands of the enemy. Not for long, however, shall this endure. - -After waiting in Pietermaritzburg long enough only to dine, I proceeded -by the night train to Durban, and was here so fortunate as to find a -Union boat, the _Guelph_, leaving almost immediately for East London. -The weather was fine, the sea comparatively smooth, and the passengers -few and unobtrusive, so that the voyage, being short, might almost be -considered pleasant. - -The captain took the greatest interest in the war, which he had followed -with attention, and with the details and incidents of which he was -extraordinarily familiar. He had brought out a ship full of Volunteers, -new drafts, and had much to say concerning the British soldier and his -comrades in arms. - -The good news which had delighted and relieved everyone had reached him -in the most dramatic and striking manner. When they left England -Roberts had just begun his welcome advance, and the public anxiety was -at its height. At Madeira there was an English cable to say that he was -engaging Cronje, and that no news had arrived for three days. This was -supplied, however, by the Spanish wire, which asserted with -circumstantial details that the British had been heavily defeated and -had fled south beyond the Orange River. With this to reflect on they -had to sail. Imagine the doubts and fears that flourished in ten days -of ignorance, idleness, and speculation. Imagine with what feelings -they approached St. Helena. He told me that when the tug-boat came off -no man dared hail them for news. Nor was it until the launch was -alongside that a soldier cried out nervously, 'The war, the war: what's -happened there!' and when they heard the answer, 'Cronje surrendered; -Ladysmith relieved,' he said that such a shout went up as he had never -heard before, and I believed him. - -After twenty-four hours of breeze and tossing the good ship found -herself in the roads at East London, and having by this time had quite -enough of the sea I resolved to disembark forthwith. - - - - - CHAPTER II - - EXIT GENERAL GATACRE - - - Bethany: April 13. - - -If you go to sleep when the train leaves East London, you should wake, -all being well, to find yourself at Queenstown. - -Queenstown lies just beyond the high water-mark of war. The tide had -flowed strong after Stormburg, and it looked as if Queenstown would be -engulfed, at any rate for a time. But Fortune and General Gatacre -protected it. Sterkstroom entrenched itself, and prepared for daily -attacks. Molteno was actually shelled. Queenstown suffered none of the -horrors of war except martial law, which it bore patiently rather than -cheerfully. - -Nothing in the town impresses the traveller, but at the dining-room of -the railway station there is a very little boy, about twelve years old, -who, unaided, manages to serve, with extraordinary dispatch and a grand -air, a whole score of passengers during the brief interval allowed for -refreshments. - -Five months earlier I had passed along this line, hoping to get into -Ladysmith before the door was shut, and had been struck by this busy -child, who seemed a product of America rather than of Africa. Much had -happened in the meantime, not so far from where he lived. But here he -was still--the war had not interfered with him, Queenstown was beyond -the limit. - -At Sterkstroom a line of empty trenches, the Red Cross flag over a -hospital, and an extension to the cemetery enclosure filled with brown -mounds which the grass had not yet had time to cover, showed that we had -crossed the line between peace and war. Passing through Molteno, the -last resting-place of the heroic de Montmorency, the train reached -Stormburg. Scarcely any traces of the Boer occupation were to be seen; -the marks of their encampments behind the ridge where they had -laagered--a litter of meat tins, straw, paper, and the like, the grave -of Commandant Swanepoole and several nameless heaps, a large stone (in -the station-master's possession) with the words engraved on it: 'In -memory of the Transvaal commando, Stormburg, December 1899,' and that -was all. The floods had abated and receded. This was the only jetsam -that remained. - -At Stormburg I changed my mind, or, rather--for it comes to the same -thing and sounds better--I made it up. - -I heard that no immediate advance from Bloemfontein was likely or even -possible for a fortnight. Therefore, I said, I will go to Capetown, and -shelter for a week at 'The Helot's Rest.' After all, what is the use of -a roving commission if one cannot rove at random or caprice? - -So to Capetown I went accordingly--seven hundred miles in forty-eight -hours of bad trains over sections of the line only newly reopened. But -to Capetown I will not take the reader. Indeed, I strongly recommend -him to stick to the war and keep his attention at the front, for -Capetown at this present time is not an edifying place. Yet, since he -may be curious to know some reason for such advice, let me explain. - -Capetown, which stands, as some writers have observed, beneath the -shadow of Table Mountain, has been--and may be again in times of -peace--a pleasant place in which to pursue business or health; but now -it is simply a centre of intrigue, scandal, falsehood, and rumour. - -The visitor stays at the Mount Nelson Hotel, if he can be so fortunate -as to secure a room. At this establishment he finds all the luxuries of -a first-class European hotel without the resulting comfort. There is a -good dinner, but it is cold before it reaches him; there is a spacious -dining-room, but it is overcrowded; there are clean European waiters, -but they are few and far between. - -At the hotel, in its garden, or elsewhere in the town, all the world and -his wife are residing--particularly the wife. - -We used to think, in the Army of Natal, that Lord Roberts's operations -in the Free State had been a model of military skill and knowledge, and, -in a simple way, we regarded French as one of the first cavalry soldiers -of the age. - -All this was corrected at Capetown, and I learned with painful -disenchantment that 'it' (the said operations) had all been a shameful -muddle from beginning to end; that the field-marshal had done this and -that and the other 'which no man in his senses,' &c., that French was -utterly ... and as for Lord Kitchener, Capetown--let us be just, -imported social Capetown--was particularly severe on Lord Kitchener. - -It was very perplexing; and besides it seemed that these people ought to -know, for they succeeded in making more news in the twenty-four hours -than all the correspondents at the front put together. The whole town -was overrun with amateur strategists and gossiping women. There were -more colonels to the acre than in any place outside the United States, -and if the social aspect was unattractive, the political was scarcely -more pleasing. - -Party feeling ran high. Some of the British section, those tremendous -patriots who demonstrate but do not fight--not to be on any account -compared with the noble fellows who fill the Volunteer corps--pot-house -heroes, and others of that kidney, had just distinguished themselves by -mobbing Mr. Schreiner in the streets. - -The Dutch section, some of them the men who, risking nothing themselves, -had urged the Republics to their ruin, all of whom had smiled and rubbed -their hands at the British reverses, sat silent in public, but kept a -strict watch on incoming steamers for members of Parliament and others -of more influence and guile, and whispered honeyed assurances of their -devotion to the Empire, coupled with all sorts of suggestions about the -settlement--on the broad general principle of 'Heads I win, tails you -lose.' - -British newspapers advocated short shrift to rebels--'Hit 'em hard now -they're down'; 'Give them a lesson this time, the dirty Dutchmen!' -Dutch papers recorded the events of the war in the tone, 'At the end of -the battle the British, as usual, fled precipitately, leaving 2,000 -killed, _our_ loss'--no, not quite that, but very nearly; everything, in -fact, but the word 'our'--'one killed, two slightly wounded.' - -Let no one stay long in Capetown now who would carry away a true -impression of the South Africans. There is too much shoddy worn there -at present. - -Only at Government House did I find the Man of No Illusions, the anxious -but unwearied Proconsul, understanding the faults and the virtues of -both sides, measuring the balance of rights and wrongs, and -determined--more determined than ever; for is it not the only hope for -the future of South Africa?--to use his knowledge and his power to -strengthen the Imperial ties. - -All this time the reader has been left on a siding at Naauwpoort; but -does he complain of not being taken to Capetown? We will hasten back -together to the healthier atmosphere of war. - -Indeed, the spell of the great movements impending in the Free State -began to catch hold of me before I had travelled far on the line towards -Bloemfontein. Train loads of troops filled every station or siding. A -ceaseless stream of men, horses, and guns had been passing northwards -for a fortnight, and on the very day that I made the journey Lord -Kitchener had ordered that in future all troops must march beyond -Springfontein, because the line must be cleared for the passage of -supplies, so that, besides the trains in the sidings, there were columns -by the side of the railway steadily making their way to the front. - -The one passenger train in the day stopped at Bethany. I got out. To -go on was to reach Bloemfontein at midnight. Better, then, to sleep here -and proceed at dawn. - -'Are there many troops here?' I asked. They replied 'The whole of the -Third Division.' 'Who commands?' 'Gatacre.' That decided me. - -I knew the general slightly, having made his acquaintance up the Nile in -pleasant circumstances, for no one was allowed to pass his mess hungry -or thirsty. I was very anxious to see him and hear all about Stormberg -and the rest of the heavy struggle along the eastern line of rail. I -found him in a tin house close to the station. He received me kindly, -and we had a long talk. The General explained to me many things which I -had not understood before, and after we had done with past events he -turned with a hopeful eye to the future. At last, and for the first -time, he was going to have the division of which he had originally been -given the command. - -'You know I only had two and a half battalions at Sterkstroom and a few -colonial horse; but now I have got both my brigades complete.' - -I thought him greatly altered from the dashing, energetic man I had -known up the river, or had heard about on the frontier or in -plague-stricken Bombay. Four months of anxiety and abuse had left their -mark on him. The weary task of keeping things going with utterly -insufficient resources, and in the face of an adroit and powerful enemy -in a country of innumerable kopjes, where every advantage lay with the -Boer, had bowed that iron frame and tired the strange energy which had -made him so remarkable among soldiers. But when he thought of the -future his face brightened. The dark days were over. The broken rocky -wilderness lay behind, and around rolled the grassy plains of the Free -State. He had his whole division at last. Moreover, there was prospect -of immediate action. So I left him, for it was growing late, and went -my way. Early next morning he was dismissed from his command and -ordered to England, broken, ruined, and disgraced. - -I will not for one moment dispute the wisdom or the justice of his -removal. In stormy weather one must trust to the man at the helm, and -when he is such a man as Lord Roberts it is not a very hard thing to do. -But because General Gatacre has been cruelly persecuted in England by -people quite ignorant of the difficulties of war or of the conditions -under which it is carried on in this country, it is perhaps not out of -place to write a few words of different tenor. - -Gatacre was a man who made his way in the army, not through any -influence or favour which he enjoyed, but by sheer hard work and good -service. Wherever he had served he had left a high record behind him. -On the Indian frontier he gained the confidence of so fine a soldier as -Sir Bindon Blood, and it was largely to his reputation won in the -Chitral Expedition that his subsequent advancement was due. At Bombay -in 1897 he was entrusted with the duty of fighting the plague, then -first gripping its deadly fingers into the city. No one who is at all -acquainted with the course of this pest will need to be told how -excellent was his work. After the late Soudan campaign I travelled from -Bombay to Poona with a Parsee gentleman, a wealthy merchant of the -plague-stricken town, and I well remember how he dilated on the good -which Gatacre had done. - -'He was our only chance,' said the black man. 'Now he is gone, and the -sickness will stay for ever.' - -Gatacre's part in the Soudan campaign has been described at length -elsewhere. His courage has never been questioned, because the savage -critics did not wish to damage their cause by obvious absurdities. If I -were to discuss his tactics in the Boer war here I should soon get on to -ground which I have forbidden myself. It is sufficient to observe that -Gatacre retained the confidence and affection of his soldiers in the -most adverse circumstances. When the weary privates struggled back to -camp after the disastrous day at Stormburg they were quite clear on one -point: 'No one could have got us out but him.' Two days before he was -dismissed the Cameron Highlanders passed through Bethany, and the men -recognised the impetuous leader of the Atbara charge; and, knowing he -had fallen among evil days, cheered him in the chivalry of the common -man. The poor general was much moved at this spontaneous greeting, -which is a very rare occurrence in our phlegmatic, well-ordered British -Army. Let us hope the sound will long ring in his ears, and, as it -were, light a bright lamp of memory in the chill and dreary evening of -life. - -Exit General Gatacre. 'Now,' as my Parsee merchant remarked, 'he is -gone'; and I suppose there are, here and there, notes of triumph. But -among them I will strike a note of warning. If the War Office breaks -generals not so much for incapacity as for want of success with any -frequency, it will not find men to fight for it in brigade and -divisional commands. Every man who knows the chances of war feels -himself insecure. The initiative which an unsympathetic discipline has -already killed, or nearly killed, in younger officers, will wither and -die in their superiors. You will have generals as before, but they will -not willingly risk the fruits of long years of service in damnable -countries and of perils of all kinds. They will look at the enemy's -position. They will endeavour to divide responsibility. They will ask -for orders or instructions. But they will not fight--if they can -possibly help it, and then only on the limited liability principle, -which means the shedding of much blood without any result. Besides, as -an irreverent subaltern remarked to me: 'If you begin with Gatacre, -where are you going to end? What about poor old ----?' - -But I dare not pursue the subject further. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - AT HALF-WAY HOUSE - - - Bloemfontein: April 16. - - -After a decent interval let the curtain rise on a new act. The scene -and most of the characters are different, but it is the same play. The -town--a town of brick and tin--stands at the apparent edge of a vast -plain of withered grass, from whose inhospitable aspect it turns and -nestles, as if for protection, round the scrub-covered hills to -northward. From among the crowd of one-storied dwelling-houses, more -imposing structures, the seats of Government and commerce, rise -prominently to catch the eye and impress the mind with the pleasing -prospect of wealthier civilisation. Here and there are towers and -pinnacles, and, especially remarkable, a handsome building surrounded in -the classic style by tall white pillars, and, surmounted by a lofty -dome, looks like a Parliament House, but for the Red Cross flag which -flies from the summit and proclaims that, whatever may have been its -former purposes, the spacious hall within is at last devoted to the -benefit of mankind. The dark hills--their uncertain outline marked at -one point by the symmetrical silhouette of a fort--form the background -of the picture: Bloemfontein, April, 1900. - -It is five o'clock in the afternoon. The Market-square is crowded with -officers and soldiers listening to the band of the Buffs. Every regiment -in the service, every Colony in the Empire is represented; all clad in -uniform khaki, but distinguished by an extraordinary variety of badges. - -Each group is a miniature system of Imperial Federation. The City -Volunteer talks to a Queensland Mounted Infantryman, who hands his -matchbox to a private of the Line. A Bushman from New Zealand, a -Cambridge undergraduate, and a tea-planter from Ceylon stroll up and -make the conversation general. On every side all kinds of men are -intermingled, united by the sympathy of a common purpose and soldered -together in the fire of war. And this will be of great consequence -later on. - -The inhabitants--bearded Burghers who have made their peace, townsfolk -who never desired to make a quarrel--stand round and watch complacently. -After all, there are worse things than to be defeated. Demand is keen, -the army is wealthy, and prices are high. Trade has followed hard on -the flag which waves from every building; and, whether it be for -merchandise or farm produce, the market is buoyant. - -The officers congregate about the pretentious building of the club, and -here I find acquaintances gathered together from all the sentry beats of -the Empire, for the regular army usually works like a kaleidoscope, and, -new combinations continually forming, scatter old friends in every -direction. But here all are collected once more, and the man we met on -the frontier, the man we met 'up the river,' the man we met at -manoeuvres with the comrade of Sandhurst, the friend or enemy of Harrow -days, and the rival of a Meerut tournament, stand in a row together. -Merry military music, laughing faces, bright, dainty little caps, a -moving throng, and the consciousness that this means a victorious -British Army in the capital of the Free State, drive away all shadows -from the mind. - -One cannot see any gaps in the crowd; it is so full of animation that -the spaces where Death has put his hand are not to be seen. The strong -surges of life have swept across them as a sunny sea closes over the -foundered ship. Yet they are not quite forgotten. - -'Hullo, my dear old boy, I am glad to see you. When did you get up -here? Have you brought ---- with you? Oh, I am sorry. It must have -been a fever-stricken hole that Ladysmith. Poor chap! Do you remember -how he .... Charlie has gone home. He can never play polo -again--expanding bullet smashed his arm all to bits. Bad luck, wasn't -it? Now we've got to find a new back .... and ---- was killed at -Paardeberg .... spoiled the whole team.' The band struck into a lively -tune. 'How long is it going to last?' - -'With luck it ought to be over by October, just a year from start to -finish.' - -'I thought you said something about Pretoria the third week in March.' - -'Ah, I must have meant May, or, perhaps, June.' - -'Or August.' - -'Who can tell? But I think this is the half-way house.' - -The conversation stops abruptly. Everyone looks round. Strolling -across the middle of the square, quite alone, was a very small -grey-haired gentleman, with extremely broad shoulders and a most -unbending back. He wore a staff cap with a broad red band and a heavy -gold-laced peak, brown riding boots, a tightly-fastened belt, and no -medals, orders, or insignia of any kind. But no one doubted his -identity for an instant, and I knew that I was looking at the Queen's -greatest subject, the commander who had in the brief space of a month -revolutionised the fortunes of the war, had turned disaster into -victory, and something like despair into almost inordinate triumph. - -Other soldiers of career and quality mingle with the diversified throng. -Macdonald sits on a bay pony near the club verandah talking to Martyr of -the Mounted Infantry and of Central African repute. Pole-Carew, who -came to the Cape as Sir Redvers Buller's camp commandant, and passed at -a bound to brigadier-general, and by another still greater leap to the -command of the Eleventh Division, canters across the square. General -French and his staff have just ridden up. But the central figure holds -all eyes, and everyone knows that it is on him, and him alone, that the -public fortunes depend. - -Such was the scene on the afternoon of my arrival in Bloemfontein. What -of the situation? The first thing to be done after the occupation of -the town was to re-open the railway. The presence of a large army in -their rear and the swift advance of Gatacre and Clements compelled the -invaders to withdraw from Cape Colony, so that Norval's Pont and -Bethulie bridges were once more in British hands. Both were, however, -destroyed or partially destroyed. Besides these, various other smaller -bridges and culverts had been blown up. All these were forthwith -repaired by the engineers, and through communication by rail was -established between the advanced Field Army in the Free State and the -sea bases at East London, Port Elizabeth, and Capetown. - -In the meantime the Army at Bloemfontein lived on the reserve of rations -it had carried from Modder River. When the railway was opened the line -from Modder River was dropped. A broad-gauge railway, even though it be -only a single line, is usually capable of supplying an army of at least -50,000 men with considerable ease, and the reader may remember how the -Natal Government Railway was able to support 30,000 men through January -and February, to transport reinforcements and sick, and to run all its -ordinary traffic in addition. But the repaired or provisional bridges -on the Bloemfontein line caused so much delay that the carrying power of -the railway was seriously diminished. When a permanent bridge has been -blown up two alternatives present themselves to the engineers: a high -level or a low level substitute. The high level bridge, such as was -thrown across the Tugela after the relief of Ladysmith, takes much -longer to build, but, when built, trains are run straight over it with -very little diminution of speed. It is, moreover, secure against -floods. - -The low level bridge must be approached by zigzag ramps, which impose -frequent shuntings, and cause great delay; and it is, of course, only to -be trusted when there are no floods. But it has this inestimable -advantage in military operations: speed in construction. The Army must -be fed immediately. So the low level bridges were chosen; hence an -early but reduced supply. When this was further minimised by the -passage of reinforcements the commissariat depots could scarcely make -headway, but must be content to feed the Army from day to day and -accumulate at the rate, perhaps, of only one day in three, or even one -in four. It was, therefore, evident that no offensive movement to the -northward could be made for several weeks. - -See how the stomach governs the world. By the rapid invasion of their -territories, by the staggering blows which they had been dealt at -Kimberley, Paardeburg, Poplar Grove, and Dreifontein, and by the bad -news from Natal, the Boers in the Free State were demoralised. If we -could have pressed them unceasingly the whole country would have been -conquered to the Vaal River. Encouraged by Lord Roberts's Proclamation, -and believing that all resistance in the Southern Republic was at an -end, great numbers of Free Staters returned to their homes, took the -oath of neutrality, and prepared to accept the inevitable. - -But while the Army waited, as it was absolutely forced to wait, to get -supplies, to get horses--to get thousands of horses--to give the -Infantry new boots, and all arms a little breathing space, the Boers -recovered from their panic, pulled themselves together, and, for the -moment, boldly seized the offensive. - -Great, though perhaps temporary, were the advantages which they gained. -The belief that the war in the Free State was at an end, which had led -so many of the Burghers to return to their farms, was shared to some -extent by the British commander, and loudly proclaimed by his colonial -advisers. To protect the farmers who had made their peace the Imperial -forces were widely extended. A line was drawn across the Free State -from Fourteen Streams, through Boshof, Bloemfontein, and Thabanchu, -south of which it was assumed that the country was pacified and -conquered. - -Meanwhile Olivier and the southern commando, recalled from their -operations in the Cape Colony, were making a hurried, and, as it seemed, -a desperate march to rejoin the main Boer forces. They expected the -attack of the same terrible Army which had already devoured Cronje; nor -was it until they reached Ladybrand and found only Pilcher with a few -hundred men snapping at their heels that they realised that the bulk of -the British troops were for the moment practically immobile at -Bloemfontein. Then they turned. - -Pilcher fled warily before them, and fell back on Broadwood's Brigade, -near Thabanchu. With renewed courage and strong reinforcements from -their friends north of the line of occupation they pressed on. Broadwood -was compelled to fall back on the Ninth Division, which was camped west -of the waterworks. He made a twenty-mile march at night and laagered in -the small hours of the morning, thinking, as most people would think, -that pursuit was for the time being shaken off. Morning broke, and with -it a Boer cannonade. - -I do not intend to be drawn into a detailed description of the action -that followed. For many reasons it deserves separate and detailed -consideration, chiefly because it shows the Boer at his very best: -crafty in war and, above all things, deadly cool. In a word, what -happened was this: The shells crashed into the laager. Everyone said, -'Take the blasted waggons out of the shell fire. We will cover their -retreat'; which they did most beautifully: Broadwood displaying all the -skill which had enabled him to disentangle the reconnaissance of the 5th -of April near the Atbara from the clutches of the Dervishes. The said -waggons hurried out of the shell fire only to fall into the frying-pan -of an ambuscade. Guns, prisoners, and much material fell into the hands -of the Boers. The Ninth Division retreated suddenly--too suddenly, say -the Army, with other remarks which it is not my business to -transcribe--on Bloemfontein, and the force of the storm fell on Gatacre. - -Gatacre had a post at Dewetsdorp: three companies of the Royal Irish -Rifles, two of Mounted Infantry. So soon as he heard of the retirement -of the Ninth Division he sent orders by many routes for his post to fall -back too. They fell back accordingly; but at Reddersburg the net closed -round them. Let us judge no man harshly or in ignorance. Fighting -followed. With a loss of eight killed and thirty-one wounded, the -retreating troops surrendered when relief was scarcely five miles away. -Everything curled back on to Bloemfontein and the railway line, which it -was _vital_ to hold. Reinforcements were thrust to the front to meet -the emergency: Rundle, with the Eighth Division, was diverted from -Kimberley to Springfontein; Hunter, with the Tenth Division (our old -friends the Irish and Fusilier Brigades), started from Natal, thus -condemning Buller to the strict defensive, and the Boers swept -southward. - -Now, in accordance with the terms of Lord Roberts's Proclamation, many -farmers of the Free State, fighting men of the Boer Army--that is to -say, who had thought that all was up: deserters, in other words--had -come into the British posts, made their submission, taken the oath, and -returned to their farms. The Boers were very angry with these people. -What protection could we give them? Some, it is said--it may be a -lie--were shot by the enemy. Most of them, from fear or inclination, -rejoined their commandos. - -The whole of the right-hand bottom corner of the Free State was overrun. -Southward still hastened the Boer forces. Brabant was the next to feel -the tempest. His garrison in Wepener was assailed, surrounded, fought -well--perhaps is now fighting desperately. Other Boers approached the -rebel districts of Cape Colony. The lately penitent rebels stirred, are -stirring. - -Mark, by the way, this sedition is not the result of misplaced -generosity but of military misfortunes. No one expects beaten men to be -grateful; but, under certain conditions, they will be loyal. An enemy -at their throats is not one of those conditions. Southward still sweep -the commandos _with empty carts_, for this is the most fertile of all -the Republican territories; and, in the meanwhile, what are we doing? -Divisions and brigades are being moved by a strong yet deliberate hand. -The hope--general and special idea in one--is to catch these bold -fellows who have thrust their heads thus far into the lion's mouth and -enjoyed until now such immunity. Wepeper making a brave defence; -Brabant marching through Rouxville to bar their advance; Rundle, -Chermside, and Brabazon striking east from Edenburg to shut the door -behind them with two Infantry divisions, twenty-four guns, and 2,000 -Yeomanry; and, further north, the great Bloemfontein Army--four Infantry -divisions, Hamilton's 10,000 mounted men, French's four Cavalry -brigades, and many guns--is almost ready to move. Assuredly these Boers -are in a dangerous place. Will they escape? Will they, perhaps, carry -some part of the intercepting lines with them as a trophy of victory? -'Qui vivra verra,' and, if these letters continue, 'who runs may read,' -for I purpose to journey _via_ Edenburg to Reddersburg to-morrow, and -thence on to the point of collision, which must mark the climax of this -extremely interesting event henceforward to be called 'The Operations in -the Right-hand Bottom Corner of the Free State.' - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - TWO DAYS WITH BRABAZON - - - Before Dewetsdorp: April 21. - - -When the incursion of the Boers into the recently pacified districts -became known, the Eighth Division (Rundle) was diverted from Kimberley, -whither it was proceeding, and concentrated at Springfontein. The Third -Division (Chermside, in supersession of Gatacre) massed at Bethany. -Still more troops were needed to guard the line and clear the country. - -Sir Redvers Buller was asked whether he could co-operate by forcing Van -Reenen's Pass and bringing pressure on the enemy's line of retreat. His -position in the centre of the triangle of Natal was, however, an -inconvenient one. The strategic advantages possessed by the Boers in -this scene of the war have before been noticed. But it may be worth -while to explain them again. - -The enemy possess the superiority of an enveloping frontier. If Sir -Redvers Buller moves west through Van Reenen's Pass to make the -diversion required in the Free State, down will come the Boers from the -Biggarsburg on his communications and into South Natal. If he moves -north to attack the Biggarsburg positions in order to clear Natal he -will cut the Boers on his left flank and line. - -According to the best information there are three thousand Boers on the -Drakensburg Passes, and ten thousand on the Biggarsburg. Buller, -therefore, would have preferred to mask Van Reenen's with the Ladysmith -Division (Fourth, Lyttelton), which was getting well and strong again, -and move northwards with the Second, Fifth, and Tenth Divisions. He did -not consider until northern Natal should be cleared that he could safely -move westward. On the other hand, the need in the Free State was urgent, -and it was therefore arranged that the Tenth Division (Hunter) should -come by sea to East London--one brigade to replace the division diverted -from Kimberley, one brigade to Bethulie, and that the rest of the Natal -Field Army should remain strictly on the defensive until the situation -was materially altered. - -Practically, therefore, five brigades of troops were available for the -operations in the right-hand bottom corner: Hart, with a brigade of -Hunter's Division at Bethulie, the Third and Eighth Divisions under -Chermside and Rundle at Springfontein and Bethany. Besides these -powerful bodies, which were quite independent of the communication -troops or the Bloemfontein Army, there were fourteen hundred Yeomanry -and Mounted Infantry under General Brabazon, and Brabant's Colonial -Brigade, about two thousand five hundred strong. - -It is scarcely necessary to follow all the movements in exact detail. -Rundle formed a column at Edenburg, and, marching to Reddersburg, joined -his force to part of Chermside's Division from Bethany, thus having -under his immediate command eight battalions, four batteries, and -Brabazon's Mounted Brigade. Another brigade was collecting at Edenburg -under Campbell. Hart was moved north-east towards Rouxville, where was -also Brabant with a thousand horse. The rest of Brabant's force, some -fifteen hundred strong, were blockaded in Wepener by the enemy. Such -was the situation when I left Bloemfontein on the morning of the 17th. - -I travelled prosperously; came by rail to Edenburg, trekked from there -in drenching rains, most unusual for this time of year, and greatly -increasing the difficulties of supply; and, resting for the night at -Reddersburg, caught up the marching column in its camp, about eleven -miles from Dewetsdorp, on the night of the 19th. - -The position of the various troops was then as follows: Rundle, with -eight battalions, four batteries, and fifteen hundred horse at Oorlogs -Poorte, about twelve miles from Dewetsdorp; Campbell, with two -battalions and a battery near Rosendal, marching to join him; the -Grenadier Guards double marching through Reddersburg to catch up the -main force; Hart, with four battalions in Rouxville; Brabant, with one -thousand horsemen eight miles north of Rouxville; Dalgety, with a -garrison of fifteen hundred men, holding Wepener. - -[Illustration: Operations in the O.F.S. April, 1900.] - -So far as could be learned the enemy had about seven thousand men with -twelve guns south of the Bloemfontein-Thabanchu line under Commandants -Olivier and De Wet, and with this force, which made up in enterprise and -activity what it lacked in numbers or material, they were attempting to -blockade and attack Wepener, to bar the road of Rundle's column to -Dewetsdorp, and to check Brabant and Hart at Smithfield. Besides -proposing this ambitious programme, the Boers sent their patrols riding -about the country commandeering all pacified farmers under threats of -death. - - - * * * * * - - -We had a very pleasant ride from Reddersburg, and it was evening when we -rounded the shoulder of a grassy hill and saw the camp of the main -British column before us. It lay about the foot of a prominent knoll -rising from a broad plain, which was in striking contrast to the -mountains of Natal, and seemed to promise ample opportunity to the -regular soldier. 'Camp' is, perhaps, an inaccurate description, for -there were scarcely any tents to be seen, and the rolling ground was -littered with swarms of grazing horses and oxen, and overspread with an -immense canopy of white smoke from the hundreds of gleaming grass fires -lighted to cook the soldiers' suppers. I presented myself to Sir Leslie -Rundle, who received me courteously, and briefly explained the outlines -of the situation. We had arrived in the nick of time. The whole force -would march at dawn. The scouts had exchanged shots during the day. -The Kaffir spies reported that the enemy would fight on the morrow. -What could be better? So with much satisfaction we went to bed. - -There was a biting chill in the air when the first light of dawn began -to grow in the sky, nor was I the only one who searched a modest kit for -some of those warm clothes which our friends at home have thoughtfully -been sending out. The South African winter was drawing near. But the -sun soon rose, and we shivered no longer. The Cavalry were early astir. -Indeed their mounted squadrons in silhouette against the morning sky was -my first waking impression, and by half-past five all were in motion. I -started a little later, but it was not long before I overtook them. -Though the command was not a large one it presented several interesting -features. - -For the first time I saw the Imperial Yeomanry in the field. Trotting -across the beautiful green pasture land in a most extended formation, to -which they seemed readily to adapt themselves, were seven hundred -Yeomen, all good men and true, who had volunteered to fight because they -understood the main causes of the quarrel, and from personal conviction -earnestly desired to be of some assistance to the State, and who were, -moreover, excellently mounted on smart, short-docked cobs, which they -sat and rode like the sportsmen they mostly were. - -We were moving along in a wide formation, which secured us against all -possibilities of surprise, when suddenly I noticed that the scouts far -in front were halted. - -'Tit-tat, tit-tat': two shots from a high plateau to the right. Shots -fired towards you, I must explain, make a double, and those fired away -from you a single, report. - -We had flushed one of the enemy's outposts. Riding nearer, I could see -their figures--seven in all--exposed on the skyline. This showed they -were only an outpost, and wished to make us believe they were more. -When the Boer is in force he is usually invisible. Still, the position -was a strong one, and it is always a possibility worth considering with -the Boer that he may foresee your line of thought, and just go one step -further, out of contrariness. General Brabazon therefore halted his -centre squadrons and detached a turning force of three companies of -Yeomanry to the right. - -We waited, watching the scouts exchange shots with the Boer picket, and -watching--for it was a very pretty sight--the Yeomanry spread out and -gallop away to the flank like a pack of hounds in full cry, each -independent, yet the whole simultaneous. In a quarter of an hour they -were scrambling up the steep sides of the plateau almost in rear of the -obstructive picket, which hurriedly departed while time remained. Then -the centre swung forward, and the whole Cavalry force advanced again, -the greater part of it moving on to the plateau, where a running fight -with the Dutch outposts now commenced at long range. - -Several times we thought that we had unmasked their main position, and -that the Cavalry work for the day was over; but each time Brabazon's -turning movement on the right, the execution of which was entrusted to -Colonel Sitwell, a very dashing officer of Egyptian note, compelled them -to fall back. After an hour of this sort of thing we were in possession -of practically the whole of the plateau, which turned out to be of large -extent. - -Beyond it, commanding it, essential to it, yet not of it, was a steep -rocky kopje. The swift advance and the necessity of pressing the enemy -had left the Infantry a long way behind. The General felt, however, -that this point must be secured. McNeill made a dash for it with the -scouts. The Yeomanry galloped off to the right again, as if about to -surround it, and the Boers allowed themselves to be bounced out of this -strong and important position, and scampered away to a smooth green hill -a mile in rear. Brabazon made haste to occupy the captured kopje in -force, and did so just in time, for as soon as the turning force--two -companies (I am going to call them squadrons in future) of yeomanry and -a company of Mounted Infantry--approached the green hill, the musketry -suddenly grew from an occasional drip into a regular patter, and there -was the loud boom of a field gun. We had found the main Boer position, -and the Cavalry came to a standstill. The enemy now directed a very -sharp fire on the captured kopje, which, it seems, they originally -intended to hold had they not been hustled out of it as has been -described. They also shelled the Yeomanry--who were continuing the flank -movement--rather heavily as they retired, inflicting some loss. - -We had now to wait for the Infantry, and they lagged on the road. The -Boer fire began to take effect. Several soldiers were carried wounded -off the top of the hill--one poor fellow shot through both cheekbones. -Others had to lie where they were struck because it was not possible to -move them while the fire was so accurate. - -On the reverse slope, however, there was good cover for man and horse. -Some of the men were engaged for the first time, and though their -behaviour was excellent, the General thought it necessary to walk along -the firing line and speak a few words here and there. - -The Infantry still lagged on the road, but at about two o'clock Sir -Leslie Rundle himself arrived. The firing about the kopje had been -loud, and a rumour--who starts these tales?--ran back along the marching -columns that the Cavalry were hard pressed, were running short of -ammunition, and that the Boers were turning both flanks. At any rate, I -found anxious faces in the divisional staff. - -Rundle considered that the retention of the kopje was of first -importance, and Sir Herbert Chermside, his second in command, fully -agreed with him. But the Infantry of the advanced guard were alone near -enough. It was decided to push them on. At this moment a reassuring -message arrived from Brabazon engaging that he could hold his own, and -hoping the Infantry would not be hurried so as to lose their breath. - -Everyone was very cheerful after this, and when at last the leading -battalion--the Worcester Regiment--marched to the kopje all were able to -admire the fine cool way in which they crossed the dangerous ground -behind it; and I myself saw three pom-pom shells strike all around a -young officer, who waved his rifle thereat in high delight, and shouted -out loudly, 'By the left!' an order the purport of which I am as -uncertain as the reader, but which, doubtless, was encouraging in -spirit. When the Infantry had relieved the mounted men the latter -withdrew to safer positions, and as the evening was drawing on the -action came to an end--by mutual consent and by the effective -intervention of the British Artillery. - -The events of the next day, though according to the scale of the war -unimportant, were nevertheless instructive from the military point of -view, and, so far as they concerned me, sufficiently exciting to -require, if not to deserve, a letter to themselves. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - TWO DAYS WITH BRABAZON (_continued_) - - - Camp before Dewetsdorp: April 22. - - -Whether I am to see the white cliffs of Dover again I know not, nor will -I attempt to predict. But it seems that my fortunes in this land are to -be a succession of adventures and escapes, any one of which would -suffice for a personal experience of the campaign. I acquit myself of -all desire to seek for these. Indeed, I have zealously tried to avoid -all danger except what must attend a War Correspondent's precarious -existence. This I recognise as a necessary evil, for the lot of the -writer in the field is a hard and heavy one. 'All the danger of war and -one-half per cent. the glory': such is our motto, and that is the reason -why we expect large salaries. But these hazards swoop on me out of a -cloudless sky, and that I have hitherto come unscathed through them, -while it fills my heart with thankfulness to God for His mercies, makes -me wonder why I must be so often thrust to the brink and then withdrawn. - -However, I will tell the tale of the doings of the Army, and what -happened to me shall fill its proper place, so that the reader may -himself be the judge of the matter. - -The night of the 20th passed quietly, but the Boers were awake with the -sunrise and saluted us with discharges of the 'pom-pom,' which, as far -as I could see, did no harm to anyone. We could not press the attack on -the previous day because the Infantry were tired out and the enemy's -position of sufficient natural strength to make an assault a serious -business. In the night the Dutchmen had been busy, and the black lines -of entrenchments marked the hill-sides. When I inquired whether there -would be a battle or not that day, staff officers pointed over the veldt -to a column of dust which was coming slowly nearer. - -General Campbell, with three battalions (including two of her Majesty's -Guards) and a battery, was marching to join the main column. It was -necessary, in view of the entrenchments and the approaching -reinforcements, to wait until the force was complete. The event would -be decided on the morrow, and meanwhile Brabazon and the mounted -troops--Cavalry, I shall call them--were to make a reconnaissance of the -Boer left. - -The brigade, which included the Mounted Infantry, and was about a -thousand strong, moved southward behind the outpost line and, making a -rapid and wide circuit, soon came on the enemy's left flank. Here we -waited while patrols were pushed out and while Brabazon was clearing his -own right by a still wider turning movement. The patrols soon drew the -fire of the Boer pickets, and the rifle shots began to ring out in the -clear cool air of the morning. Presently a party of a dozen Boers -appeared in the distance, galloping down towards a farm whence they -might fire on the gradually advancing Cavalry. The General asked the -subaltern in charge of our two guns whether they were within range. The -young officer was anxious to try. We watched the experiment with -attention. - -The practice was extremely good. The first shell burst in the middle of -the Boer horsemen, who at once spread into a looser formation. The next -exploded in front of them, and all the seven shells that were fired fell -within measurable distance of someone. - -For the first time in this war I saw the Boers show what I consider -cowardice; for without anyone being killed or wounded the whole party -turned back and, abandoning their intention or duty, scurried away to -cover behind the long swell of ground over which they had come. The -Boer Army in Natal was not thus easily dissuaded from its objects. - -Meanwhile the flanking movement was in progress, and as the ground to -our right was gradually made good and secured by Colonel Sitwell, -Brabazon pushed his centre forward until McNeill's scouts were cantering -all over the slopes where the Boers had just been shelled, and hunting -such of the enemy as tarried to safer and more remote positions. At -last we arrived at the edge of the swell of ground. It fell steeply -towards a flat basin, from the middle of which rose a most prominent and -peculiar kopje. Invisible behind this was Dewetsdorp. Round it stood -Boers, some mounted, some on foot, to the number of about two hundred. - -Our rapid advance, almost into the heart of their position, had -disturbed and alarmed them. They were doubtful whether this was -reconnaissance or actual attack. They determined to make certain by -making an attempt to outflank the outflanking cavalry; and no sooner had -our long-range rifle fire compelled them to take cover behind the hill -than a new force, as it seemed, of two hundred rode into the open and -passing across our front at a distance of, perhaps, 2,000 yards, made -for a white stone kopje on our right. - -Angus McNeill ran up to the General. 'Sir, may we cut them off? I think -we can just do it.' The scouts pricked up their ears. The General -reflected. 'All right,' he said, 'you may try.' - -'Mount, mount, mount, the scouts!' cried their impetuous officer, -scrambling into his saddle. Then, to me, 'Come with us, we'll give you -a show now--first-class.' - -A few days before, in an unguarded moment, I had promised to follow the -fortunes of the scouts for a day. I looked at the Boers, they were -nearer to the white stone kopje than we, but, on the other hand, they -had the hill to climb, and were probably worse mounted. It might be -done, and if it were done--I thought of the affair of Acton Homes--how -dearly they would have to pay in that open plain. So, in the interests -of the 'Morning Post,' I got on my horse and we all started--forty or -fifty scouts, McNeill and I, as fast as we could, by hard spurring, make -the horses go. - -It was from the very beginning a race, and recognised as such by both -sides. As we converged I saw the five leading Boers, better mounted -than their comrades, outpacing the others in a desperate resolve to -secure the coign of vantage. I said, 'We cannot do it'; but no one -would admit defeat or leave the matter undecided. The rest is -exceedingly simple. - -We arrived at a wire fence 100 yards--to be accurate 120 yards--from the -crest of the kopje, dismounted, and, cutting the wire, were about to -seize the precious rocks when--as I had seen them in the railway cutting -at Frere, grim, hairy and terrible--the heads and shoulders of a dozen -Boers appeared; and how many more must be close behind them? - -There was a queer, almost inexplicable, pause, or perhaps there was no -pause at all; but I seem to remember much happening. First the -Boers--one fellow with a long, drooping, black beard, and a -chocolate-coloured coat, another with a red scarf round his neck. Two -scouts cutting the wire fence stupidly. One man taking aim across his -horse, and McNeill's voice, quite steady: 'Too late; back to the other -kopje. Gallop!' - -Then the musketry crashed out, and the 'swish' and 'whirr' of the -bullets filled the air. I put my foot in the stirrup. The horse, -terrified at the firing, plunged wildly. I tried to spring into the -saddle; it turned under the animal's belly. He broke away, and galloped -madly off. Most of the scouts were already 200 yards off. I was alone, -dismounted, within the closest range, and a mile at least from cover of -any kind. - -One consolation I had--my pistol. I could not be hunted down unarmed in -the open as I had been before. But a disabling wound was the brightest -prospect. I turned, and, for the second time in this war, ran for my -life on foot from the Boer marksmen, and I thought to myself, 'Here at -last I take it.' Suddenly, as I ran, I saw a scout. He came from the -left, across my front; a tall man, with skull and crossbones badge, and -on a pale horse. Death in Revelation, but life to me. - -I shouted to him as he passed: 'Give me a stirrup.' To my surprise he -stopped at once. 'Yes,' he said, shortly. I ran up to him, did not -bungle in the business of mounting, and in a moment found myself behind -him on the saddle. - -Then we rode. I put my arms around him to catch a grip of the mane. My -hand became soaked with blood. The horse was hard hit; but, gallant -beast, he extended himself nobly. The pursuing bullets piped and -whistled--for the range was growing longer--overhead. - -'Don't be frightened,' said my rescuer; 'they won't hit you.' Then, as -I did not reply, 'My poor horse, oh, my poor ---- horse; shot with an -explosive bullet. The devils! But their hour will come. Oh, my poor -horse!' - -I said, 'Never mind, you've saved my life.' 'Ah,' he rejoined, 'but -it's the horse I'm thinking about.' That was the whole of our -conversation. - -Judging from the number of bullets I heard I did not expect to be hit -after the first 500 yards were covered, for a galloping horse is a -difficult target, and the Boers were breathless and excited. But it was -with a feeling of relief that I turned the corner of the further kopje -and found I had thrown double sixes again. - -The result of the race had been watched with strained attention by the -rest of the troops, and from their position they knew that we were -beaten before we ever reached the wire fence. They had heard the sudden -fierce crackle of musketry and had seen what had passed. All the -officers were agreed that the man who pulled up in such a situation to -help another was worthy of some honourable distinction. Indeed, I have -heard that Trooper Roberts--note the name, which seems familiar in this -connection--is to have his claims considered for the Victoria Cross. As -to this I will not pronounce, for I feel some diffidence in writing -impartially of a man who certainly saved me from a great danger. - -Well satisfied with my brief experience with the scouts, I returned to -General Brabazon. While we had been advancing deeply into the Boer -flank, they had not been idle, and now suddenly, from the side of the -solitary kopje behind which they had collected, three guns came into -action against us. For ten minutes the shell fire was really hot. As -these guns were firing with black powder, the smoke springing out in a -thick white cloud from the muzzle warned us whenever a projectile was on -its way, and, I think, added to the strain on the nerves. You could -watch the distant artillery. There was the gun again; four or five -seconds to wonder whether the shell would hit you in the face; the -approaching hiss rushing into a rending shriek; safe over; bang! right -among the horses a hundred yards behind. Here comes the next--two guns -fired together this time. Altogether, the Boers fired nearly thirty -shells--several of which were shrapnel--on this small space of ground. -But fate was in a merciful mood that day, for we had but one man killed -and five or six--including the General's orderly--wounded by them. - -It was, however, evident that this could not endure. Brabazon had not -cared to bring his own two guns into such an advanced position, because -they were not horse guns, and might not be able to get away safely if -the Boers should make a strong counter attack. Indeed, so long as the -loss of guns is considered a national disaster instead of only an -ordinary incident of war, Cavalry officers will regard them rather as -sources of anxiety than as powerful weapons. - -Without guns it was useless to stay, and as, moreover, Sir Leslie -Rundle's orders were that the Cavalry were not to be severely engaged, -Brabazon decided to withdraw the reconnaissance, and did so most -successfully, after an instructive little rearguard action. He had -penetrated far into the enemy's position; had compelled him to move his -guns and disturb his frontal dispositions; had reconnoitred the ground, -located the laagers, and come safely away with the loss of little more -than a dozen men. Had there been on this day an Infantry support behind -the Cavalry we should have hustled the enemy out of his whole position -and slept triumphantly in Dewetsdorp. - -Sir Leslie Rundle was much impressed by the vigour and success of the -Cavalry, whose fortunes were watched from the plateau, and as evening -came the report spread through the camp that a general engagement would -be fought on the next day. He also decided to entrust the direction of -the actual turning attack to General Brabazon, who, besides his Cavalry -force, was to have twelve guns and an Infantry brigade under his -command. - -With every feeling of confidence in the issue the Army went to bed, -impatient for the dawn. But in the dead of night a telegram arrived -from Lord Roberts, instructing Rundle not to press his attack until he -was in touch with Pole-Carew and other reinforcements; and it thus -became evident that the operations had grown to an altogether larger -scale. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - THE DEWETSDORP EPISODE - - - Bloemfontein: May 1 - - -Sometimes it happens that these letters are devoted to describing small -incidents, and often personal experiences in a degree of detail which, -if the rest of the campaign were equally narrated, would expand the -account to limits far beyond the industry of the writer or the patience -of the reader. At others many important events must be crowded into a -few pages. But though the proportions of the tale may vary, I shall not -deserve criticism so long as the original object of conveying a lively -impression of the war is strictly pursued; nor should the reader -complain if, for his instruction or amusement, he is made one day to sit -with the map of the Orange Free State spread before him, and move little -flags to show the course of the operations, and on another day is -invited to share the perils of a scout's patrol or try the chances of a -cavalry skirmish. To-day there is much to tell, and we must remain -almost beyond the sound of the cannon watching a distant panorama. - -The object of the operations was in any case to relieve Wepener, and to -clear the right hand bottom corner of the Orange Free State of the -Boers, and, if the enterprise prospered and the fates were kind, to cut -off and capture some part of their forces. In all five columns were in -motion. There were to be demonstrations along the east of the railway -line, increasing in earnestness according as they were nearer the south, -and the lowest columns were to actually push the matter through. Ian -Hamilton, with 2,000 Mounted Infantry, was ordered to demonstrate -against the waterworks position. French, supported by Pole-Carew, was -instructed to move on Leeukop. Rundle, in conjunction with Hart and -Brabant from the southward, was to force his way to Dewetsdorp and to -relieve Wepener. What befell his column on April 20 and 21 has already -been described. The attack on the Boer position in front of Dewetsdorp -had not been made on the 20th because Sir Herbert Chermside pointed out -that the Infantry were fatigued with marching. The next morning the -smooth hills were crowned with entrenchments, and it was thought better -to wait for Campbell's Brigade, which would arrive at sundown. - -The 22nd was to be the day of battle. Meanwhile Sir Leslie Rundle had -telegraphed to Lord Roberts describing the horseshoe position of the -enemy, and its strength, explaining that with the small mounted force at -his disposal any attack which he might make would develop into something -very like a frontal attack, and would be costly. A strong memorandum -had previously been circulated among divisional and brigade commanders -condemning, almost prohibiting, frontal attacks, and the General, not -unnaturally, wished to assure himself that the price of victory would -not be grudged. When this telegram reached Bloemfontein it was -apparently misunderstood. 'Rundle is hung up,' they said. 'He can't get -on'; and hence the reply which arrived in the dead of night, and -prevented the attack of the 22nd. 'Wait till you get into touch with -Pole-Carew,' or words to that effect. So the powerful force--almost -equal in strength to that with which Sir George White had resisted the -first fury of the Boers when, with 25,000 men under the -Commandant-General himself, they burst into Natal--was relegated to some -days of pusillanimous waiting in front of a position held by scarcely -2,500 men. - -After breakfast on the morning of the unfought battle I climbed to the -top of the hill the cavalry had seized two days before, and which the -soldiers had christened "Brab's kopje.' A fifteen hundred yards -musketry duel was proceeding, and it was dangerous to put one's head -over the stone shelters even for a minute to look at the Boer -entrenchments on the green slope opposite. But such was not my purpose. -I scanned the northern horizon. Far away on a peak of the misty blue -hills there flashed a diamond. It was Pole-Carew. Half an hour later -another star began to twinkle further to the eastward. French and his -cavalry were riding steadily forward, 'fighting, too,' said the -heliograph, 'but pushing them back.' The scale of the operations had -grown indeed. No less than five infantry and three cavalry brigades, -with more than seventy guns, were involved in the business of dislodging -2,500 Boers from their position in front of Dewetsdorp. - -The 23rd passed quietly, except for an intermittent bombardment of our -camp by the Dutch guns and a Vickers-Maxim and the usual patter of -musketry along the outposts. The diamond points on the distant hills -seemed nearer and more to the east than before, and in the afternoon -Brabazon was sent to reconnoitre towards them. As the Yeomanry emerged -from the shelter of the plateau the Boer Creusot gun espied them. -Brabazon, with half a dozen officers or orderlies, was riding fifty -yards in front of his brigade. - -'See there,' said the Dutch gunners, 'there is the Hoofd Commandant -himself; take good aim.' So they did, and from a range of 5,000 yards -burst their shell within two yards of the General's horse. 'Wonderful,' -said Brabazon; 'why can't our forsaken artillery shoot like that?' and -he ordered the brigade to canter by troops across the dangerous ground. -I watched the scene that followed from comparative safety, 600 yards -nearer the Boer gun. Troop by troop the Yeomanry emerged from shelter. -As each did so the men opened out to dispersed order and began to -gallop; and for every troop there was one shell. From where I stood the -spectacle was most interesting. Between the shrieking of the shell -overhead and its explosion among the galloping horsemen there was an -appreciable interval, in which one might easily have wagered whether it -would hit or miss. - -The Yeomanry were very steady, and for the most part ran the gauntlet at -a nice, dignified canter, pulling into a walk as soon as the dangerous -space was crossed. After all no one was hurt, except three men who -broke their crowns through their horses falling on the rocky ground. -Indeed, I think, speaking from some experience, that we can always treat -these Creusot 9-pounders with contempt. They fling a small shell an -immense distance with surprising accuracy, but unless they actually hit -someone they hardly ever do any harm. An ordinary bullet is just as -dangerous, though it does not make so much noise. - -At Vaal Krantz, in Natal, Dundonald's Brigade and other troops lived -quite comfortably for three days under the fire of a 98-pounder gun, -which in all that time only killed one soldier of the Dublin Fusiliers, -two natives, and a few beasts. The wholesale aspect of artillery fire -is not obtained unless at least a dozen guns are firing percussion shell -or unless shrapnel can be used. At present the Boers often cause us a -great deal of trouble with single guns, which, though they do scarcely -any material harm, disturb every one, so that camps are shifted and -marching columns ordered to make long _detours_; whereas we ought to -shrug our shoulders, as Ladysmith did, pay the small necessary toll, and -go our ways uninterruptedly. But I am being drawn into detail and -discussion, which, if I am ever to catch up the swift march of events, -must be rigorously excluded. - -The 23rd passed quietly for times of war, and the Boer riflemen and -artillerists fired busily till dusk without doing much harm. We wondered -how much they knew of the 'increased scale' of the operations. Did they -realise the enormous strength of the forces closing round them? Were -they going to be caught as Cronje was caught? It was hardly likely. -Yet they were certainly holding all their positions in force at -nightfall, and meanwhile the spring of the trap was compressed and the -moment for releasing it arrived. - -The morning of the 24th was unbroken by a single shot. Rundle, now in -touch with Pole-Carew, swung his division to the left, pivoting on -Chermside, to whom he entrusted the defence of the plateau. Brabazon -with his Mounted Brigade formed the extreme outer flank of this sweeping -movement. His orders were to join French, who drove inward from the -north, somewhere behind Dewetsdorp on the Modder River. So we started, -and, with much caution and the pomp of war, turned the enemy's left, and -in solemn silence bore down on the flank and rear of his position. - -Meanwhile, Chermside on the plateau was struck by the entire cessation -of fire from the Boer lines opposite to him. He sent scouts to -reconnoitre. Single men crept up the hill, looked into the trenches, -and found--nothing. The Boers had retreated swiftly in the night. They -enjoyed good information of all our movements and designs, had foreseen -the impossibility of withstanding the great forces operating against -them. They delayed us with the appearance of strength until the last -minute. On the night of the 22nd they sent off their waggons towards -Thabanchu. On the 23rd they made their effort against Wepener, and -attacked the garrison heavily, and on the night of the 24th, having -failed at Wepener, they performed a masterly retreat, the assailants of -Wepener marching northwards _via_ Ladybrand, the covering force at -Dewetsdorp moving on Thabanchu. - -And so it was that when, as directed, Brabazon circled round the enemy's -left flank and struck the Modder River--here only a rocky ditch with -occasional pools of mud--and when French, moving from Leeukop round and -behind their right flank, met him, they found the Dutch already -departed, and Dewetsdorp again under the Union Jack. The strong jaws of -the rat-trap shut together with a snap. I saw them--black across the -open plain--two great horns of cavalry and guns; but the rat had walked -comfortably away some hours before. Chermside moving over the empty -trenches occupied the town. Rundle, reaching it an hour later, owing to -his turning movement, hurried on through it to the Modder, and laid -Brabazon's dusty squadrons on the retreating enemy. Indeed, the latter -officer was already at the trot towards Thabanchu when French himself -arrived--a large and magnificent staff, 'pom-poms,' horse artillery, and -two cavalry brigades--and assumed supreme command. - -He immediately stopped the pursuit, sent Brabazon back to relieve -Wepener--which place had by its plucky defence, like Jellalabad, -relieved itself--and entered Dewetsdorp, where he remained until the -next day. - -Such is the story of Dewetsdorp, which cannot be contemplated with -feelings of wild enthusiasm. The Wepener situation was cleared up, and -the Boers were persuaded to retire from the right hand bottom corner of -the Free State towards Ladybrand and Thabanchu at an exceedingly small -price in blood. On the other hand, the enemy might boast that 2,500 -Burghers with six guns had contained 13,000 troops with thirty guns for -a week, while their brethren worked their wicked will on Wepener, and -had only been dislodged by the setting in motion of more than 25,000 men -and seventy guns. - -The movements which followed the occupation of Dewetsdorp need not take -long in the telling. French's occupation of the town instead of -pursuing the enemy was not in accordance with the Commander-in-Chief's -ideas, and the cavalry leader was forthwith ordered to follow the Boers -at his best pace to Thabanchu. He started accordingly at daylight on -the 25th, and Rundle with the Eighth Division followed at noon. -Chermside remained at Dewetsdorp with part of the Third Division, and -was entrusted with the re-establishment of order through the disturbed -districts. - -Brabazon marched on Wepener and collected the garrison. Their defence -of seventeen days, under continual rifle and shell fire, in hastily dug -trenches, which they were unable to leave even at night; exposed to -several fierce attacks; in spite of heavy losses and with uncertain -prospects of relief, will deserve careful attention when full accounts -are published, and is a very honourable episode in the history of -Brabant's Colonial Brigade, and particularly in the records of the Cape -Mounted Rifles, who lost nearly a quarter of their strength. - -Bringing the defenders with him, and having communicated with Hart and -Brabant, Brabazon returned to Dewetsdorp, and was ordered to move thence -to Thabanchu, which he did in an exceedingly convenient hour, as it -turned out, for a certain convoy with an escort of Scots Guards and -Yeomanry. Pole-Carew and the Eleventh Division returned to Bloemfontein -to take part in the main advance. - -The Boers made good their retreat. They took with them twenty-five -prisoners of the Worcester Regiment, who had blundered into their camp -before Dewetsdorp, armed only with cooking pots, which they meant to -carry to their regiment on 'Brab's kopje,' and great quantities of sheep -and oxen. They halted in Ladybrand, and to the north and east of -Thabanchu in a most pugnacious mood. Indeed, they had no reason to be -discontented with the result of their southern incursion. - -They had captured seven guns and nearly 1,000 prisoners. They had -arrested and carried off a good many farmers who had laid down their -arms and made their peace with the British Government. They had harried -all who received the troops kindly, had collected large quantities of -supplies which they had sent north, and, lastly, had delayed the main -advance by more than five weeks. - -Owing to the great disproportion of the forces the fighting had not been -of a severe nature, and the losses were small. In the skirmishes before -Dewetsdorp about forty men were killed and wounded, mostly in Brabazon's -Brigade. In the action at Leeukop and the subsequent fighting which -attended French's march several officers and fifty men were stricken, -and a squadron of the 9th Lancers, which was required to attack a kopje, -suffered severely, having nearly twenty casualties, including Captain -Stanley, a very brave officer, who died of his wounds, and Victor Brooke -(of whom more will be heard in the future) who had his left hand -smashed. Captain Brasier-Creagh, 9th Bengal Lancers, commanding -Roberts's Horse, was killed at Leeukop, and his many friends along the -Indian frontier will not need to be told that by his death Lord -Roberts's Army suffered a loss appreciable even among the great forces -now in the field. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - IAN HAMILTON'S MARCH - - - Winburg: May 8. - - -The unsatisfactory course of the operations in the south-eastern corner -of the Free State, and the indecisive results to which they led, were -soon to be arrested and reversed by a series of movements of surprising -vigour and remarkable success. Of all the demonstrations which had been -intended against the enemy to the east of the railway, Hamilton's -advance towards the waterworks position, being the most northerly, was -to have been the least earnestly pressed. The orders were: 'If you find -the waterworks weakly held, which is not likely, you may try to occupy -them, and, in the event of success, may call up Smith-Dorrien's Brigade -to strengthen you.' - -On this General Ian Hamilton, who now commanded the imposing, but -somewhat scattered, Mounted Infantry Division, started from Bloemfontein -on the 22nd of April with about 2,000 Light Horse, Australians, and -Mounted Infantry, and one battery of Horse Artillery. On the 23rd he -arrived before the waterworks, reconnoitred them, found them weakly -held, or, at any rate, thought he could take them, attacked, and before -dark made himself master of the waterworks themselves, and of the drift -over the river which led to the hills beyond, into which the enemy had -retired. Smith-Dorrien's Brigade was called up at once, arrived after -dark, and the next morning the force crossed at the drift, and the whole -position was occupied. The enemy offered a slight resistance, which was -attributed by some to a deep design on their part to lure the column -into a trap further to the east, and by others to the manner in which -the attack was delivered. The news o the capture of this strong and -important place, which secures the Bloemfontein water supply, was -received with great satisfaction at headquarters. - -Meanwhile the operations round Dewetsdorp came to their abortive -conclusion, and it became evident that the Boers had evaded the -intercepting columns and were making their way northwards by Thabanchu. -What was to be done? Had the officer commanding at the waterworks any -suggestion to make? Most certainly, and the suggestion was that he -should be permitted to advance himself and occupy Thabanchu. This was -the answer that was expected and desired. Permission, and with it a -field battery, was accordingly given, and, on the 25th of April, the -column moved out of the waterworks position towards Thabanchu. It -consisted of Ridley's Brigade of Mounted Infantry, which included a -large proportion of colonials--Australians and New -Zealanders--Smith-Dorrien's Infantry Brigade (Gordons, Canadians, -Shropshires, and Cornwalls), with twelve guns. - -The country to the east of Bloemfontein is at first smooth and open. -Great plains of brownish grass stretch almost to the horizon, broken to -the eye only by occasional scrub-covered hills. To any one unaccustomed -to the South African veldt they appear to offer no obstacle to the free -movement of cavalry or artillery; nor is it until one tries to ride in a -straight line across them that the treacherous and unimagined donga and -the awkward wire fence interpose themselves. But beyond the Modder -River, on which the waterworks are situated, the surface of the ground -becomes rocky and hilly, and the features increase in prominence until -Thabanchu Mountain is reached, and thereafter the country uprears itself -in a succession of ridges to the rugged and lofty peaks of Basutoland. - -Thabanchu, a small village, as we should regard it in England, a town of -comparative commercial importance in the Orange Free State, and of -undoubted strategic value during this phase of the operations, stands at -the foot of the precipitous feature that bears its name. It is -approached from the direction of Bloemfontein by a long, broad, -flat-bottomed valley, whose walls on either side rise higher and higher -by degrees as the road runs eastward. The eastern end of this wide -passage is closed by a chain of rocky kopjes, whose situation is so -curious and striking that they seem to be devised by nature to resist -the advance of an invader. The kopjes, rising abruptly from the flat -glacis-like ground, are a strong rampart, and the whole position, -resting on apparently secure flanks, creates a most formidable barrier, -which is called locally Israel's Poorte. - -Along the valley, on the 25th of April, Hamilton proceeded to march with -his entire force, Ridley and the Mounted Infantry being a considerable -distance in front of the main body. At ten o'clock a heavy fire of -musketry and artillery was opened at an extreme range from the hills on -the left hand side of the column. Ignoring this, which proved -afterwards to be only a Boer demonstration, Ridley continued his march, -and Hamilton followed, until, at a little after eleven o'clock, both -were brought to a stand-still before the Israel's Poorte position, which -was found to be occupied by the enemy, estimated at 800 strong, with -several guns. - -After a personal reconnaissance, and in spite of a most disquieting -report that the Boers had just been reinforced by 'two thousand men in -four lines,' the General resolved to attack. His plan was simple but -effective. It resembled very closely Sir Bindon Blood's forcing of the -'Gate of Swat' at Landakai in 1897. The front was to be masked and -contained by a sufficient force of infantry and all the guns. The rest -of the troops were to stretch out to the left and swing to the right, -the infantry along the left hand wall of the valley, the mounted men -actually the other side of the wall. - -Accordingly, the Canadian Regiment and the Grahamstown Volunteers -(Marshall's Horse) moved forward in extended order--25 yards interval -between men--to within about 800 yards of the enemy's position, and -here, just out of the range of serious harm, they lay down and opened a -continuous musketry fire. Both batteries came into action forthwith and -shelled the crest line with satisfactory energy. Smith-Dorrien, with -the remaining three battalions of his brigade, moved to the left, and -began working along the ridges. Ridley, breaking out of the valley into -the more open ground beyond, began to move against the enemy's line of -retreat. - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM EXPLAINING HAMILTON'S ACTION AT ISRAEL'S POORTE, -THE 25TH OF APRIL.] - -Four hours passed, during which the Boers indulged the hope that the -frontal attack would be pushed home, and at the end of which they found -their right flank turned and their rear threatened. Immediately, with -all the hurry of undisciplined troops who feel a hand on their -communications, they evacuated the position, and, running to their -horses, galloped away. The Canadians and Grahamstown Volunteers -thereupon arose and occupied the line of kopjes, and thus the door was -opened and the road to Thabanchu cleared. Our losses in this smart -action were about twenty killed and wounded, among whom were no less -than five officers of the Grahamstown Volunteers. The Dutch left five -corpses on the field, and doubtless carried away a score of wounded. - -General Hamilton, pushing on, entered Thabanchu the same night, and the -British flag was again hoisted over the town. The Imperialist section -of the community, who had in the interval between the evacuation and -reoccupation of the town been subjected to much annoyance at the hands -of the Boers, were naturally shy, and afraid to make any sign of -welcome. The southern commandos from Dewetsdorp and Wepener had by hard -marching already passed behind Thabanchu with their convoys. On the -26th French and his Cavalry, covering the march of Rundle's (Eighth) -Division, arrived, and, since he was a lieutenant-general, took the -command out of Hamilton's hands for a time. - -I had come northwards from Dewetsdorp with the Cavalry Brigades, and was -an eyewitness of the operations round Thabanchu which occupied the 26th -and 27th. Thabanchu Mountain is a lofty and precipitous feature of -considerable extent, and, towards the south, of indefinite shape. To -the north, however, it presents a wide bay, on whose grassy shores -rising from the more arid plain the Boer laagers were reported to stand. -The enemy held the crest of the crescent-shaped mountain with guns and -riflemen, and in order that no one should pry behind it they extended on -their right a few hundred trustworthy fellows, who, working in the most -scattered formation, gave to their position an enormous front of -doubtful strength. - -On the afternoon of the 26th, with a view to further operations on the -following day, a force of Mounted Infantry, supported by galloping -Maxims and a Horse Battery, was sent to reconnoitre, and if possible to -hold the hill, henceforward called 'Kitchener's Horse Hill.' The troops -gained possession of the feature without fighting, though a few Boers -were seen galloping along the ridges to the right and left, and an -intermittent musketry fire began. A garrison to hold the hill was -detailed, consisting of Kitchener's Horse, a company of the Lincoln -Mounted Infantry, and two Maxim guns; but just as the sun sank this plan -was changed by the officer commanding the force, and the whole were -ordered to retire into Thabanchu. On the Indian frontier it is a -cardinal rule to retire by daylight and sit still when overtaken by -night in the best position at hand. In this war experience has shown -that it is usually better to remain on the ground, even at a heavy cost, -until it is quite dark, and then to retreat, if necessary. The reason -of the difference is, that while close contact with an Afridi armed with -a four-foot knife, active as a cat and fierce as a tiger, is to be -avoided as much as possible, no soldier asks better than the closest -contact with a Dutchman. But though the teaching of both wars may seem -contradictory on many points, on one point it is in complete agreement: -twilight is the worst time of all to retire. - -The consequences of this ill-timed change of plan were swift. The Boers -saw the retrograde movement, and pressed boldly forward, and Kitchener's -Horse, finding themselves closely engaged, were unable to move. A sharp -and savage little fight followed in the gloom. The Boers crept quite -close to the soldiers, and one fierce greybeard was shot through the -head eight paces from the British firing line, but not until after he -had killed his man. The reports which reached the town, that -Kitchener's Horse were 'cut off' on a kopje four miles from the camp, -induced General French to send the Gordon Highlanders to their relief. -This battalion started at about ten o'clock, and were put on their road -to the northward. But in the darkness and the broken ground they lost -their way, marched five miles to the south, occupied another hill, and -did not rejoin the command until the afternoon of the next day, an -absence which, since no inquiries could discover them, caused much -anxiety. Kitchener's Horse meanwhile, under Major Fowle, of the 21st -Lancers, made a plucky defence, beat off the Boers, and managed at about -eleven o'clock to effect their retreat undisturbed. The losses in the -affair were twelve or fourteen men killed and wounded, including one -officer, who was shot through the head. - -Very early the next morning the whole force marched out of the town, and -French's operations were this day designed to compel the enemy to -retreat from his positions in rear of Thabanchu Mountain, and if -possible to surround some part of his force. The information at General -French's disposal could not, however, have been very accurate, for in my -telegram of the 26th I wrote that 'more than 2,000 Boers' were collected -to the north of Thabanchu, and the Press Censor erased this and -substituted the words 'small parties.' If this latter view had been -correct it is probable that the operations of the following day would -have been attended by a greater measure of success. - -The plan was clear and vigorous. Gordon's Cavalry Brigade was to move -to the right, round the east of Thabanchu Mountain, and force their way -into the plains behind it. It was hoped that the Lancers, of which this -brigade is entirely composed, would find some opportunity for using -their dreaded weapon. Hamilton was to push back the weak Boer right, -and open the way for Dickson's Cavalry Brigade to pass through and join -hands with Gordon. Rundle, whose infantry were tired from their long -march from Dewetsdorp, was to demonstrate against the Boers' centre and -hold the town. - -The action opened with the re-occupation of Kitchener's Horse Hill by -Smith-Dorrien's Infantry Brigade, who advanced in determined style, and -by a sweeping movement of Ridley's Mounted Infantry. Both these -undertakings, which were directed by Hamilton, prospered. The Boer -right, which was very thin, was brushed aside, and the road for the -cavalry was opened. At, and not until, nine o'clock, French's leading -squadrons began to appear on the plain, and by ten the whole of -Dickson's Brigade had passed through the gap and were safely extended in -the undulating plains beyond. - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM EXPLAINING FRENCH'S OPERATIONS ROUND THABANCHU, -THE 26TH AND 27TH APRIL.] - -Wishing to see, for the first time, Cavalry and Horse Artillery working -in suitable country, I rode down from my post of observation on -Kitchener's Horse Hill and trotted and cantered until I caught up the -squadrons. It was evident that the left enveloping arm was making good -progress. Already we could almost look into the bay behind Thabanchu -Mountain. If Gordon were only getting on as well we might join hands -with him, and enclasp a goodly catch of prisoners. So the brigade -continued to advance from ridge to ridge, and presently Boers began to -gallop across the front to escape, as was thought, from the net we were -drawing round them. At all of these--the Horse Artillery and the -pom-poms--British pom-poms at last--fired industriously. But as the -enemy kept a respectful distance and an open formation, only a few were -seen to fall. The others did not fly very far, but gathered together in -what soon became considerable numbers outside the net, near a peaked -hill, which does not appear in my sketch, but which the reader may bear -in mind as lying to the left rear of the turning Cavalry. - -At last Dickson's advance reached a point between Thabanchu Mountain and -the peaked hill, so that no more Boers could escape by that road; and we -saw the others, three or four hundred in number, riding about, up and -down, or round and round in the bay, like newly-caught rats in a cage. - -At this everyone became very excited. 'Gordon must have headed them -back,' it was said. 'Only a few more men and we might make a bag.' -Where could men be found? Somebody suggested asking Hamilton. The -helio twinkled: 'Come and help us make a bag,' it said, in somewhat more -formal language. And Hamilton came forthwith, leaving positions which -were of much value; collecting every man he could lay his hands -on--weary mounted Infantry, a tired-out battery, and all of -Smith-Dorrien's Brigade that could march fast at the end of a long -day--he hurried to seize and line the northern spurs of Thabanchu -Mountain, prepared to risk much to strike a heavy blow. - -The movement of Infantry and guns to support him encouraged Dickson to -press still further forward, and the whole brigade advanced nearly -another mile. At length we overtopped a smooth ridge, and found -ourselves looking right into the bay or horseshoe of mountains. Now at -last we must see Gordon. 'There he is,' cried several voices, and -looking in the direction shown I saw a majestic body of horse streaming -out of the centre of the bay towards the north-west. But was it Gordon? -At least 4,000 mounted men were riding across our front, hardly two -miles away. Surely no brigade was so numerous. Yet such was the -precision of the array that I could not believe them Boers. - -Boers their numbers, however, proved them to be; and not their numbers -alone, for before we had watched this striking spectacle long, two large -puffs of smoke leapt from the tail of the hostile column, and two -well-aimed shells burst near our Horse Battery. At the same time -patrols from the left rear hurried in with the news that the Boers who -had already escaped from our imagined 'trap' were advancing in force, -with two more guns, to cut us from the rest of the army. - -As for Gordon, there was no longer any doubt about his fortunes. Far -away to the eastward the horseshoe wall of mountains dipped to a pass, -and on the sides of this gateway little puffs of smoke, dirty brown -against the darkening sky, showed that Gordon was still knocking with -his Artillery at the door, and had never been able to debouch in the -plains behind it. Moreover, the dangerous hour of twilight was not long -distant. Dickson determined to retreat while time remained, and did so -without any unnecessary delay. Whereat the Boers came down on our rear -and flank, opening furious fire at long range, and galloping eagerly -forward, so that the brigade and its guns, so far from entrapping the -enemy, were all but entrapped themselves; indeed, the brigadier's mess -cart, the regimental water carts, and several other little things, -which, being able only to trot, could not 'conform to the general -movement,' were snapped up by the hungry enemy, who now pressed on -exulting. - -Meanwhile Hamilton had taken some risks in order to promote the expected -entrapping. He had now to think of himself. First, the Boer advance -must be stopped, and, secondly, the force which had, in the hopes of -grasping the Boers, let go its hold on Kitchener's Horse Hill, must be -withdrawn within the Thabanchu picket line. The General, however, was -equal to both requirements. Judiciously arranging some force of Infantry -and guns, he peppered the advancing Boers heavily, so that at 800 yards -they wheeled about and scurried to the shelter of adjacent kopjes. This -advantage restored the situation. Hamilton remained on the ground till -dark, and then, with the whole of Ridley's and Smith-Dorrien's commands, -returned safely into Thabanchu. - -During the day rifle and artillery fire had been constant; but as the -fighting had been conducted at extreme ranges, which neither side showed -much anxiety to diminish, the slaughter was small. Indeed, I do not -think that a dozen men were stricken in either army. So far as the -British were concerned, the result of the day's operations was a -qualified success. - -The Boers were evidently prepared to retreat from Thabanchu, but they -proposed to do so in their own time and at their most excellent -discretion, and it was quite evident that we had not succeeded in any -way in hindering or preventing them. It was also clear that, far from -being 'in small parties,' their strength was nearly 6,000, so that on -the whole we might congratulate ourselves on having moved in ignorance -and taken no great hurt, The only point about the action difficult to -understand was the behaviour of the Boers who had ridden about like -caged rats. Why should they do so when they knew that their line of -retreat to the north-east was perfectly secure? I can only conclude -that this particular commando had arranged to retire northwards towards -the peaked hill, and were annoyed at being prevented from joining their -comrades at the point where their waggons, and, consequently, their -dinners, were awaiting them. - -On the evening of this instructive, but unsatisfactory, day, Hamilton -received orders from Lord Roberts to march north on Winburg in -conformity with the general advance of the army. For this purpose his -force was to be largely increased, and the operations which followed -require the space of another letter. French remained for some days at -Thabanchu, but attempted no further serious operations against the -enemy. - -Only one other incident of interest occurred in the neighbourhood of -Thabanchu. After his relief of Wepener, Brabazon was ordered thither -_via_ Dewetsdorp. On the 28th, dusty and tired at the end of a long -march, he arrived with his Yeomanry at the foot of a pass among the -hills. A Kaffir lounged into the bivouac and asked the General whether -he would like to see some pretty shelling, for that there was a fine -show at the top of the valley. Brabazon, much interested, mounted his -horse forthwith, and, guided by the Kaffir through devious paths, -reached a point which afforded an extensive view. - -There, in the twilight, lay a British convoy, stoutly defended by a -company of the kiddies and a few Yeomanry, and shelled--as the Kaffir -had said--with great precision by two Boer guns. The General thereupon -gave the Kaffir a 'fiver' to carry a letter through the Boer lines to -the commander of the convoy, telling that officer to hold out manfully, -and promising that with the dawn Brabazon and the Imperial Yeomanry -would come to his aid. - -The Kaffir succeeded in his mission. The convoy was encouraged, and, -good as his word, with the daylight came the General, at whose approach -the Boers fled incontinently, so that Brabazon, the Yeomanry, and the -convoy came in safety and triumph into Thabanchu together. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - IAN HAMILTON - - - London: August 10, 1900. - - -Ian Standish Monteith Hamilton was born at Corfu in 1853. His father, -the late Colonel Christian Monteith Hamilton--then a captain, but who -eventually commanded the 92nd Highlanders--was the eldest son of John -George Hamilton and of Christina Cameron Monteith, daughter of Henry -Monteith of Carstairs, sometime Member of Parliament for Lanarkshire. -His mother, the late Maria Corunia Vereker, was daughter of John, third -Viscount Gort, by Maria O'Grady, daughter of Viscount Guillamore.[#] The -Hamilton family is one of the elder branches of the Scottish Hamiltons, -and represents the male line of the Hamiltons of Westport. One of his -ancestors on his father's side, a Colonel Hamilton, was for several -years an aide-de-camp of the first Duke of Marlborough, and it was -therefore something in the nature of a coincidence when Ian Hamilton -found the present Duke of Marlborough serving in a similar capacity on -his staff. It would not be quite correct to call him a pure Celt, but -some notice should be taken by those interested in these questions that -his blood is mostly Celtic: both of his grandmothers, Monteith and -O'Grady, being of Celtic stock, Scottish and Irish respectively. - - -[#] _Vide_ Peerage, Gort and Guillamore. - - -When Ian Hamilton was born his father was serving with a detachment of -the 92nd Highlanders at Corfu. His mother died in 1856, and for the -next ten years, the father being constantly on duty with the regiment, -he and his younger brother, Vereker Hamilton, who was born in 1856, -lived with their grandparents at Hapton, in the Holy Loch in -Argyllshire. Such a childhood on moor and loch in a fine wild country -was likely to develop and brace nerve and muscle, and stir the keen -blood inherited from many generations of warlike ancestors. He was -educated first at Cheam, and as he grew sufficiently old at Wellington -College. Here he was very happy, and although he was not especially -noted for industry, his success in the examinations at the end of each -term excused any neglect in its course. In 1872 he passed the tests for -the army, and, according to the system at that time in force, was -offered the choice of going to Sandhurst or living for a year abroad to -learn a foreign language thoroughly. The cadet chose the latter, and -was sent to Germany. Here he had the good luck to make the close -friendship of a most distinguished old man. General Dammers was a -Hanoverian who had fought against the Prussians at Langesalze, and who, -refusing a very high command under the Prussians, lived at Dresden. -Although he himself remained aide-de-camp to the ex-King of Hanover, he -became the centre of a group of Hanoverian officers who had entered the -Saxon service. He was thus in touch with the latest school of military -thought, stimulated to its utmost activity by the lessons of the great -war which had lately been concluded. From General Dammers, Ian Hamilton -learned the German language, military surveying, something of military -history, and something doubtless of strategy and the art of war. The -year thus passed very profitably. On his return to England, however, -the War Office announced that they had changed their minds and that for -the future everybody must go through Sandhurst. Such protests as his -father, himself an officer, was entitled to make were overruled by the -authorities, and Ian Hamilton embarked upon his military career having -lost, through no fault of his own, one year of seniority--a year which -Fortune had perhaps even then determined to restore to him manifold. - -In 1873 he entered the 12th Foot, and after some months joined his -father's old regiment, the 92nd. At first with the 92nd, and after 1881 -with the 2nd battalion of the regiment, the Gordon Highlanders, Ian -Hamilton followed the drum from garrison to garrison, going through the -military routine, and plodding slowly up the first few steps of the long -ladder of promotion. From the very first he interested himself in -musketry. He became himself a keen and good rifle shot, and not with -the military rifle alone. He spent a long leave in Kashmir on the -fringe of the snows, and made a remarkable bag. Indeed, some of his -heads attained nearly to the record dimensions, and one big -single-horned markhor enjoyed the actual supremacy for several months. - -Then came the Afghan war. Ian Hamilton, although only an infantry -soldier, became aide-de-camp, with Brabazon as Brigade Major, to the -unfortunate commander of the British Cavalry Brigade. Early in the -campaign he was stricken down with fever, and so avoided being drawn -into the controversy which raged for several years in military circles -around the actions in the Chardeh valley. It would indeed have been -unfortunate if at this early stage in his career he had been led into -any antagonism to the great General with whom his fortunes were -afterwards so closely associated. - -The Boer war of 1881 found Hamilton still a subaltern. He was ordered -to South Africa with his regiment, and went full of eager anticipation. -The regiment, composed almost entirely of soldiers inured to the -hardships and disdainful of the dangers of war, was in the most perfect -condition to encounter the enemy, and, as is usual in British -expeditions on the outward voyage, they despised him most thoroughly. -It was not to be dreamed of that a parcel of ragged Boers should stand -against the famous soldiers of Kabul and Kandahar. They discussed -beforehand the clasps which would be given upon the medal for the -campaign. They were to be Laing's Nek, Relief of Potchefstroom, and -Pretoria 1881. No one had then ever heard the name of Majuba Mountain. -Yet there was to be the first encounter between Highlanders and -Dutchmen. - -The dismal story of Majuba is better known than its importance deserves. -Had that action been fought in this war it would perhaps have gone down -to history as the affair of the 27th of February. Instead, it was -accepted as a stricken field, and might, such was the significance that -was attached to it, have changed the history of nations. It needs no -repetition here save in so far as it is concerned with Ian Hamilton. -Majuba Mountain may in general terms be described as a saucer-topped -hill. Sir George Colley and his six hundred soldiers, picked from -various units (that all might share the glory), sat themselves down to -rest and sleep, and dig a well in the bottom of the saucer. One weak -picket of Gordon Highlanders was thrust forward over the rim on to the -outer slope of the hill to keep an eye on those silent grey patches -which marked the Boer laagers far below. Hamilton was the subaltern in -command. As the day gradually broke and the light grew stronger, he saw -from the very lifting of the curtain the course of the tragedy. Boers -awoke, bustled about their encampments; looked up just as Symons' -Brigade looked up on the morning of Talana Hill, and saw the sky-line -fringes with men. More bustle, long delay, much argument and hesitation -below, a little boasting rifle fire from some of the British soldiers: -'Ha, ha! got you this time I think!'--and then, straggle of horsemen -riding in tens and twenties towards the foot of the mountain. Hamilton -reported accordingly. The action of Majuba Hill had begun. Pause. - -There was--so it has been described to me--a long donga that led up the -steep slope. Into the lower end of this the Boer horsemen disappeared. -Hamilton moved his score of men a little to their right, where they -might command this zig-zag approach as much as the broken ground would -allow, and reported again to the General or whoever was directing -affairs--for Colley, wearied with the tremendous exertion of the night -climb, was sleeping--'Enemy advancing to attack.' He also made a few -stone shelters. Pause again. Suddenly, quite close, darting forward -here and there among the rocks and bushes of the donga--Boers! Fire on -them, then. The Gordons' rifles spluttered accordingly, and back came -the answer hot and sharp--a close and accurate musketry fire pinning the -little party of Regulars to the earth behind their flimsy shelters. No -one could show his head to fire. Soldiers would hold a helmet up above -the sheltering stone and bring it down with two and three bullets -through it. Could half a company fight a battle by itself? What were -others doing? Hamilton felt bound to send another report. He left the -half company in charge of the sergeant, got up, ran up the slope, and -dropped into safety the other side of the saucer-shaped rim. The -distance was scarcely forty yards, yet two bullets passed through his -kilt in crossing it. Where was the General? A staff officer, ignorant -and therefore undisturbed, said that the General was sleeping. 'He -knew,' said the staff officer, 'what was going on. No need for a -subaltern of Highlanders to concern himself.' Hamilton returned, -running the gauntlet again, to his men. The fire grew hotter. The Boers -began to creep gradually nearer. Their front attack widened and drew -around the contours of the hill. Were all the force asleep? One more -warning at any rate they should have. Again he darted across the open -space with the swish of bullets around him. Again he found the staff. -But this time they were annoyed. It is such a bore when young officers -are jumpy and alarmist. 'It's all right,' they said: and so it was -within the saucer. The bullets piped overhead as the wind howls outside -the well-warmed house. But a sudden change impended. - -Hamilton rejoined his men just as the Boers attacked at all points. The -little picket of Highlanders, utterly unable to withstand the weight of -the enemy's advance, ran back to the rim of the saucer intermingled with -the Boers, who fired their rifles furiously at them, even putting the -muzzles to the men's heads and so destroying them. In Sir William -Butler's book, written almost entirely with the view of exonerating Sir -George Colley, it is suggested that his advanced picket fell back in a -panic. The truth is that they were swept backward by overwhelming force -after they had three times reported to the General the development of a -heavy attack. Of the seventeen men under Ian Hamilton in this advanced -position twelve were shot dead. - -The survivors of the picket with the pursuing Boers reached the rim -together, and became visible to the main force. Astounded by this -apparition, the troops who were lying down in the saucer rose up -together, and, some accoutred, some with their coats off, Highlanders, -sailors, and linesmen, ran forward and fired a ragged volley. The Boers -immediately lay down and replied, causing heavy loss. A furious -musketry fight followed between the Dutch in cover along the rim and the -British among the rocks across the centre of the saucer. This was ended -by the appearance of other Boers on the high ground at the northern end -of the plateau. Without orders or order, exposed to a terrible fire, -ignorant of what was required of them, the soldiers wavered. One last -chance presented itself. Hamilton rushed up to the General in the -impetuosity of youth: 'I hope you'll forgive my presumption, sir, but -will you let the Gordon Highlanders charge with the bayonet?' - -'No presumption, young gentleman,' replied Colley, with freezing -calmness. 'We'll let them charge us, and then we'll give them a volley -and a charge.' - -On the word the whole scene broke into splinters. The British troops -abandoned their positions and fled from the ground. The Boers, standing -up along the rim, shot them down mercilessly--sporting rifles, crack -shots, eighty yards' range. Hamilton saw a figure scarcely ten yards -away aiming at him, raised the rifle he found himself somehow possessed -of to reply. Both fired simultaneously. The British officer went down -with his wrist smashed to pieces. He rose again: the rear crest was -near. The last of the fugitives were streaming over it. One dash for -liberty! The fire was murderous. Before the distance was covered his -tunic was cut by one bullet, his knee by another, and finally a splinter -of rock striking him behind the head brought him down half stunned to -the ground--luckily behind the shelter of a small rock. - -The firing stopped. The Boers began to occupy the position. Two -discovered the wounded man. The younger, being much excited, would have -shot him. The elder restrained him. 'Are you officer, you damned -Englishman?' said they. - -'Yes.' - -'Give your sword.' - -Now Hamilton's sword had belonged to his father before him. He replied -by offering them money instead. - -'Money!' they cried; 'give it up at once,' and were about to snatch it -away when a person of authority--it is said Joubert himself--arrived. -'Voorwarts,' he said to the burghers, and in spite of their desire to -plunder he drove them on. Hamilton thanked him. 'This is a bad day for -us.' - -'What can you expect,' was the answer characteristic of the Boer--the -privileged of God--'from fighting on a Sunday?' - - -Then they collected the prisoners and helped Hamilton to walk back to -the British position. Colley lay dead on the ground. The Boers would -not believe it was the General. 'Englishmen are such liars.' Hector -Macdonald--grim and sad--hero of the Afghan war, now a prisoner in the -enemy's hand, watched the proceedings sullenly. The Boers picked out -the surrendered prisoners. They looked at Hamilton. He was covered -with blood from head to foot They said: 'You will probably die. You may -go.' So he went; staggered, and crawled back to camp, arrived there -delirious the next morning. The wrist joint is composed of eight -separate bones. The bullet, breaking through, had disarranged them -sadly, had even carried one or two away. If he had consented to -amputation he would soon have been convalescent. But a soldier must -preserve all he can. What with fever and shock he nearly died. For six -months he was an invalid. But the hand was saved, so that now the -General can hold an envelope between his paralysed and withered fingers, -and sometimes hold a cigarette. For all other purposes it is useless, -and when he rides it flaps about helplessly--a glorious deformity. - -After some months of doubt as to whether he should leave the army and -throw himself entirely into the literary pursuits which had always -possessed for him a keen attraction, Hamilton decided to remain a -soldier. - -He next saw service in the Soudan: he was not intended to make this -campaign, for the battalion to which he belonged was serving in India, -and there has always been much jealousy between the Indian and the -Egyptian British officer. But he happened to be coming home on leave, -and when the steamer reached Suez it occurred to him to ask himself why -he should not go up the Nile with the columns which were being formed. -He got out of the ship accordingly and ran across the sands to the train -which was standing in the station. Had he not caught it he would have -returned to the ship. But he was in time. Next day he arrived in -Cairo, and while waiting there for his luggage he applied for -employment. It was refused, officers were not allowed to volunteer. -The Gordon Highlanders, his only hope, had their full complement of -officers. They had no vacancy for him. Hamilton did not, however, give -up his idea easily. He resolved to travel as far as Wady Halfa and renew -his application there. He journeyed south with Colonel Burnaby, and -after a week of train and river-boat arrived at the whitewashed mud huts -in the midst of a vast circle of sand which marked the base of the -British Expeditionary forces, both desert and river columns. - -What followed has happened so often that it is well worth the attention -of young officers. Be it always remembered that the regulations of the -army are formed to make all people quite alike one uniform pattern and -on one level of intelligence--not yet the highest. You do not rise by -the regulations, but in spite of them. Therefore in all matters of -active service the subaltern must never take 'No' for an answer. He -should get to the front at all costs. For every fifty men who will -express a desire to go on service in the mess or the club, and will -grumble if they are not selected, there is only about one who really -means business and will take the trouble and run the risk of going to -the front on the chance. The competition is much less keen when you get -there. I know something of this myself, and am convinced of its truth. - -The subaltern really stands on velvet in the matter. If he succeeds all -is well. If he gets rebuked and ordered down, he must try again. What -can the authorities do? They cannot very well shoot him. At the worst -they can send him back to his regiment, stop his leave for six months, -and some choleric old martinet who was a young man once, though he had -half forgotten it, will write in some ponderous book in Pall Mall -against the offender's name: 'Keen as mustard--takes his own line--to be -noted for active service if otherwise qualified.' - -Of course everyone was delighted to see Hamilton at Wady Halfa. They -appointed him to a vacancy which had meanwhile occurred in the Gordon -Highlanders, and gave him a company and a boat in the River Column. -Through all the hard campaign that followed he served with credit. The -fortunes of the troops who worked their way up the Nile have not been so -closely studied as those of the columns which plunged into the desert -and fought at Abu Klea and Abu Kru. But it was nevertheless one of the -most picturesque enterprises of our military history. The broad boats -toiling forward against the current of the river, making perhaps three -miles a day, obstructed by frequent cataracts and menaced continually by -the enemy, the scouts on the banks, the lines of men on the tow ropes, -the red sand of the desert, the hot steel sky, and the fierce sunlight -slanting in between rocks of the Nile gorge, are materials from which a -fascinating sketch might be painted. Hamilton's boat became somehow the -head of the rear column. At length there came a day when they told of -expected opposition, dervish encampments, and a certain rocky ridge said -to be lined with riflemen. The leading column of boats was hurried -forward. By some mischance Hamilton's boat became the rear boat of the -leading column. At any rate, his company alone of the Gordon -Highlanders fought in the action of Kirbeckan next day. Nothing -succeeds like success. Hamilton received the Distinguished Service Order -for his services. - -After the Nile Expedition of 1885 had reached its sad conclusion, -Hamilton returned to India and became an aide-de-camp on the staff of -Lord Roberts, who was then commanding the Madras army. The question of -musketry training for Infantry was at that time much discussed, and Lord -Roberts was determined to do something to improve the shooting of the -British army. In his book 'Forty-one Years in India' he tells us how he -and his staff formed themselves into a team and had many exciting rifle -matches with the regiments in the Madras command. In all this -Hamilton's skill with the rifle and the keen interest he had always -shown for musketry--his first regimental appointment had been to be -Musketry Instructor--stood him in good stead, and when Lord Roberts -became Commander-in-Chief in India his aide-de-camp, who had meanwhile -served in the Burmah campaign, was made Assistant Adjutant-General for -Musketry. - -In 1886 he married Jean, daughter of Sir John Muir, Baronet, of -Deanston, Perthshire. He had now determined to persevere in the -military profession, and devoted himself to it with great assiduity. His -literary talents were turned to military subjects. He published a book -on musketry in the army entitled 'The Fighting of the Future.' It was -strong and well written. The introduction of the magazine rifle has -modified many of his conclusions, but at the time the book attracted a -great deal of attention. He found time, however, to write on other -things, and there are still extant from his pen: 'A Jaunt in a Junk,' an -account of a cruise which he made with his brother down the west coast -of India; a volume of verses, 'The Ballad of Hadji and the Boar'; and -one or two other writings. He preserved and extended his acquaintance -with literary men, particularly with Andrew Lang, whom he powerfully -impressed, and who inscribed a volume of poems to him in the following -compulsive lines: - - _TO COLONEL IAN HAMILTON_ - - To you, who know the face of war, - You, that for England wander far, - You that have seen the Ghazis fly - From English lads not sworn to die, - You that have lain where, deadly chill, - The mist crept o'er the Shameful Hill, - You that have conquered, mile by mile, - The currents of unfriendly Nile, - And cheered the march, and eased the strain - When Politics made valour vain, - Ian, to you, from banks of Ken, - We send our lays of Englishmen! - - -After doing much useful work in the Musketry Department he became one of -the Assistant Quartermaster-Generals in India. From this office he -managed to sally forth to the Chitral Expedition, for his services in -which on the lines of communication he was made Commander of the Bath. -He next became Deputy Quartermaster-General, and it was evident that if -he chose to continue to serve in India he would ultimately become the -head of the Department. In 1897 the Great Frontier War broke out. -Hamilton was appointed to command one of the brigades of the Tirah -Expeditionary Force. He was at the time on leave in England. He -returned at speed, assumed command, and led his brigade through the -Kohat Pass in the first movement of the general advance. It looked as -if his chance in life had come. He had a magnificent force under him. He -enjoyed the confidence of the General-in-chief, Sir William Lockhart, -and only a few miles away the enemy awaited the advancing army on the -heights of Dargai. The next morning his horse shied suddenly. He was -thrown to the ground and broke his leg. They carried the brigadier away -in a doolie, his brigade passed to another, and the campaign in Tirah -was fought without him. - -Ian Hamilton took this bitter disappointment with philosophical -composure. 'Perhaps,' he said to me one day in Calcutta, 'I should have -lost my reputation had I held my command.' But it was easy to see how -much he felt the lost opportunity and the enforced inaction. At length -his leg was mended--after a fashion. He persuaded a medical board to -pass him as sound. The campaign continued. There was, however, no -vacancy at the front. For several weeks he waited. Presently Sir -Bindon Blood--who was preparing for his invasion of Buner, and who knew -Hamilton well--applied for him to command his lines of communication. -Obstacles were, however, raised by the Indian War Office, and the -proposal fell through. At last, in February, when it seemed certain -that a spring campaign must be undertaken against the Afridis, Sir -William Lockhart decided to replace General Kempster by some other -brigadier, and Ian Hamilton was again sent to the front. The hopes or -fears of a further campaign proved unfounded. The Afridis gradually -paid their toll of rifles, and their jirgahs made submission. The -fighting was practically over. Yet in much skirmishing as occurred -while Hamilton's brigade were holding the advanced posts in the Bara -valley his care and eagerness attracted attention, and, small as was his -share in the campaign, Sir William Lockhart gave him an honourable -mention in the despatches. - -On the restoration of order along the North-West Frontier Hamilton was -offered the temporary position of Quartermaster-General in India. -Anxious, however, for home employment, and fully alive to the importance -of not becoming too closely identified with any particular military set, -he declined this important office and proceeded to England on a year's -leave. After some delay he was appointed commandant of the School of -Musketry at Hythe, and from this post he was twice withdrawn to command -brigades at the Manoeuvres. When Sir George White was sent to Natal in -September 1899 Hamilton accompanied him as Assistant Adjutant-General. -The War Office are therefore entitled to plume themselves upon his -successes, for he is one of the few men originally appointed who have -increased their reputation. - -Ian Hamilton's part in the Boer war is so well known that it will be -unnecessary to do more than refer to it here. He displayed a curious -facility for handling troops in close contact with the enemy, and -practically from the beginning of the fighting he held the command of a -brigade. It was Hamilton whose influence went so far to counteract the -astounding optimism of the gallant Penn Symons. It was Hamilton who was -to have led the bayonet attack by night on the Boer laagers two days -before Talana Hill was fought. It was Hamilton to whom French entrusted -the entire disposition of the Infantry and Artillery at Elandslaagte, -who arranged the attack, rallied the struggling line, and who led the -final charge upon the Boer entrenchment. Again after Lombard's Kop, when -the army reeled back in disorder into Ladysmith, it was Hamilton's -brigade which, judiciously posted, checked the onset of the victorious -enemy. During the defence of Ladysmith Hamilton's section of the -defence included Caesar's Camp and Wagon Hill. He has been censured in -the Press for not having fortified these positions on their outer -crests, and it was said in the army after the 6th of January that this -neglect caused unnecessary loss of life. How far this criticism may be -just I do not now propose to examine. The arguments against entrenching -the outer crest were that heavy works there would draw the enemy's -artillery fire, and that the Imperial Light Horse, who were to have -defended this section, said they preferred to avail themselves of the -natural cover of rocks and stones. The reader would be well advised to -defer judgment until some serious and historical work on the campaign in -Natal is published. At present all accounts are based on partial and -imperfect evidence, nor do I think that the whole true account of a -single action has yet been written. - -Whatever the rights of this question may be, it is certain that on the -6th of January Ian Hamilton, by his personal gallantry and military -conduct, restored the situation on Wagon Hill. Indeed, the Homeric -contest, when the British General and Commandant Prinsloo of the Free -State fired at each other at five yards' range, the fierce and bloody -struggle around the embrasure of the naval gun, and the victorious -charge of the Devons, may afterwards be found to be the most striking -scene in the whole war. - -After the relief of Ladysmith, Roberts, who knew where to find the men -he wanted, sent for Hamilton, much to the disgust of Sir Redvers Buller, -who proposed to keep this good officer for the command of one of his own -brigades. On reaching Bloemfontein he was entrusted with the -organisation of the Mounted Infantry division, a post from which he -could conveniently be drawn for any service that might be required. Of -the rest some account will be found in these letters. - -Ian Hamilton is, as the fine portrait by Sargent, reproduced as the -frontispiece of this book, shows him, a man of rather more than middle -height, spare, keen eyed, and of commanding aspect. His highly nervous -temperament animating what appears a frail body imparts to all his -movements a kind of feverish energy. Two qualities of his mind stand -forward prominently from the rest. He is a singularly good and rapid -judge of character. He takes a very independent view on all subjects, -sometimes with a slight bias towards or affection for their radical and -democratic aspects, but never or hardly ever influenced by the set of -people with whom he lives. To his strong personal charm as a companion, -to his temper never ruffled or vexed either by internal irritation or -the stir and contrariness of events, his friends and those who have -served under him will bear witness. He has a most happy gift of -expression, a fine taste in words, and an acute perception of the -curious which he has preserved from his literary days. But it is as a -whole that we should judge. His mind is built upon a big scale, being -broad and strong, capable of thinking in army corps and if necessary in -continents, and working always with serene smoothness undisturbed alike -by responsibility or danger. Add to all this a long experience in war, -high military renown both for courage and conduct, the entire confidence -and affection of the future Commander-in-Chief, the luck that has -carried him through so many dangers, and the crowning advantage of being -comparatively young, and it is evident that here is a man who in the -years that are to come will have much to do with the administration of -the British Army in times of peace and its direction in the field. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - THE ACTION OF HOUTNEK - - - Winburg: May 8 - - -Ian Hamilton's orders were to march north from Thabanchu on Winburg by -the Jacobsrust road, and he was expected, if no opposition was -encountered, to reach his destination by the 7th of May. The column -with which he started from Thabanchu was composed of Smith-Dorrien's -19th Infantry Brigade, Ridley's Mounted Infantry Brigade, and two -batteries of artillery; but at Jacobsrust he would receive a strong -reinforcement, consisting of Bruce-Hamilton's 21st Brigade of Infantry, -Broadwood's Cavalry Brigade, two batteries of field and one of horse -artillery, and two 5-in. guns. This accession would raise his force to -a total of 7,500 Infantry, 4,000 mounted men, and thirty-two guns--an -imposing command for an officer who had not yet had time to take the -badges of a colonel off his shoulders. The first thing, however, was to -reach Jacobsrust, and effect the junction with Bruce-Hamilton's force. - -The Thabanchu column started at daybreak on the 30th of April, and when -it was within three or four miles of Houtnek Poorte the enemy suddenly -unmasked field guns and 'pom-poms,' and opened a long range fire with -them from the east on the right flank of the marching troops. Colonel -Bainbridge, with the 7th Corps of Mounted Infantry, wheeled up to -contain this force of the enemy, and at the same time De Lisle--of polo -fame--pushed forward boldly at a gallop with the 6th Corps and the New -Zealanders, and seized a commanding position about 2,000 yards south of -the actual nek. Colonel Legge, meanwhile advancing on the left front, -noticed that Thoba Mountain was weakly held by the enemy, and thereupon -ordered Kitchener's Horse to attack it, thus anticipating the order -which the General was himself about to send. These dispositions, which -were made on their own initiative by the various Mounted Infantry -officers, enabled a deliberate view of the situation to be taken. - -The pass of Houtnek consists of two parallel grassy ridges separated by -a smooth shallow valley a little more than a mile across, and devoid of -cover. On the east the pass runs up into sharp rocky kopjes, -strengthened by successive lines of stone walls trailing away towards -the main laagers of the enemy. Both the centre and the left flank of -the Boer position refused all opportunity of attack. The Dutch right -was scarcely more encouraging. On the west of the pass rose the great -mountain of Thoba, an uneven battlefield, better suited to Boers than to -British troops. Yet as it was on Hamilton's safer flank, dominated the -rest of the enemy's position, could be turned by mounted troops making a -very wide detour, and being, moreover, the only way, the General -resolved to attack it. - -[Illustration: Diagram Explaining the Action of Houtnek] - -At 9.30 the Infantry began to come up, and at ten o'clock the approaches -to the Boer position were strongly occupied. As soon as Kitchener's -Horse were seen to have made good their footing on Thoba Mountain, -Hamilton ordered General Smith-Dorrien to support them with part of his -brigade, which was accordingly done, two companies of the Shropshires, -the Gordon Highlanders, and four companies of the Canadians being -successively worked up on to the hill under a heavy shell fire from the -enemy. This practically disposed of the whole force, which was soon -engaged all along the line, the Mounted Infantry holding the enemy off -the right and right rear, the Cornwalls guarding the baggage, one-half -Smith-Dorrien's Brigade containing the front, and the other half with -Kitchener's Horse pushing the flank attack on Thoba Mountain. As soon -as the Boers understood the designs of the British on Thoba they made a -strong effort to regain and hold that important feature. At first the -troops made good progress; but as the enemy received continual -reinforcements the resistance became more severe, until, presently, far -from gaining ground, they began to lose it. At last, about two o'clock, -some one hundred and fifty of the German corps of the Boer force -advanced from the northern point of Thoba in four lines across the table -top to drive the British off the hill. So regular was their order that -it was not until their levelled rifles were seen pointing south that -they were recognised as foes, and artillery opened on them. In spite of -an accurate shell fire they continued to advance boldly against the -highest part of the hill, and, meanwhile, cloaked by a swell of the -ground, Captain Towse, of the Gordon Highlanders, with twelve men of his -own regiment and ten of Kitchener's Horse, was steadily moving towards -them. The scene on the broad stage of the Thoba plateau was intensely -dramatic. The whole army were the witnesses. - -The two forces, strangely disproportioned, drew near to each other. -Neither was visible to the other. The unexpected collision impended. -From every point field glasses were turned on the spectacle, and even -hardened soldiers held their breath. At last, with suddenness, both -parties came face to face at fifty yards' distance. The Germans, who -had already made six prisoners, called loudly on Captain Towse and his -little band to surrender. What verbal answer was returned is not -recorded; but a furious splutter of musketry broke out at once, and in -less than a minute the long lines of the enemy recoiled in confusion, -and the top of the hill was secured to the British. Among the -foreigners wounded in this encounter, was Colonel Maximoff. - -Captain Towse, for his conspicuous gallantry, and for the extraordinary -results which attended it, has been awarded the Victoria Cross; but, in -gaining what is above all things precious to a soldier, he lost what is -necessary to a happy life, for in the moment when his military career -was assured by a brilliant feat of arms, it was terminated by a bullet -which, striking him sideways, blinded him in both eyes. Thus do Misery -and Joy walk hand in hand on the field of war. - -All this time the rifle and gun fire along the whole front had been -continuous, and as the day wore on without the British making good their -hold on Thoba Mountain the enemy gathered in a more and more threatening -attitude on the right of the column, and by four o'clock at least 1,500 -men were collected, with guns and 'pom-poms,' which threw shell into the -rear guard and transport. Hamilton, however, was determined to fight -the matter out. He therefore directed that all troops should post -guards on their front, lie down wherever darkness found them, and -prepare to renew the action at daybreak. He then telegraphed to General -French for some assistance, the need of more mounted troops being -painfully felt. - -At dawn on May-day fighting recommenced, and soon after six o'clock -parties of the Gordons and Canadians succeeded in gaining possession of -the two peaks of Thoba Mountain. Besides this, half a company of the -Shropshires, under Colour-sergeant Sconse, managed to seize the nek -between them, and though subjected to a severe cross fire, which caused -in this small party ten casualties out of forty, maintained themselves -stubbornly for four hours. The points which dominate the flat top of -the mountain were thus gained. - -Meanwhile reinforcements, consisting of the 8th Hussars, a composite -Lancer regiment, the East Yorkshire, and a field battery, had arrived -from Thabanchu, and the approach of Bruce-Hamilton's force from the -direction of Kranz Kraal was also felt. General Ian Hamilton now ordered -Colonel Clowes, commanding the Cavalry, to move right round Thoba -Mountain and threaten the Boer line of retreat as a preliminary and -accompaniment of the main Infantry assault, which had now become -inevitable. Clowes's force was strengthened by the addition of a horse -battery. The newly-arrived Infantry and the field battery had to be -diverted to support the right and right rear, where the pressure was now -very strong. - -At about eight A.M. General Smith-Dorrien had himself gone up to the top -of Thoba Mountain to direct personally the decisive movement when the -time should come. A little before one o'clock, the progress of the -Cavalry being satisfactory, he determined to settle the matter, so that -if successful the force might get its baggage over the pass before dark. -He therefore formed a line of Infantry right across the plateau, two -companies of the Shropshires in the centre, and one and a half company -of the Gordons on either flank. The advance was sounded. - -The troops moved forward with alacrity. For a few moments the fire was -heavy, but the Boers knew themselves bested, and on the soldiers raising -the cheer that precedes the actual assault they rushed to their horses, -and the whole of Thoba Mountain was won. The rest of the position now -became untenable, and the enemy, to the number of 4,000, promptly -evacuated it, galloping swiftly back in the direction of Jacobsrust. - -A few troops of the 8th Hussars alone got near enough to charge; -half-a-dozen Dutchmen were sabred, and one was shot dead by an officer, -Lieutenant Wylam. The Boers who were making the attack on the right -retreated at the same time as their comrades, and the transport, no -longer molested, passed safely over the pass and parked for the night on -the northern side. No trustworthy estimate can be formed of the enemy's -loss; but a score of prisoners were taken, and an equal number of bodies -were found on the position. - -The British casualties were fortunately slight considering the fire and -its duration, and did not exceed a hundred officers and men. - -The next day the junction between the columns was effected, and Ian -Hamilton's force formed, with reference to the main advance, the Army of -the Right Flank, and was composed as follows:[#] - - Infantry. { 19th Brigade } Smith-Dorrien - { 21st Brigade } Bruce-Hamilton - - Mounted { 1st M. I. } Ridley - Infantry. { Brigade } - - Cavalry. { 2nd Cavalry } Broadwood - { Brigade } - - { 3 Batteries F.A. } - Artillery. { 2 Batteries H.A. } Waldron - { 2 5-in. Guns. } - - -[#] For full composition see Appendix. - - -This force was supported by the Highland Brigade and two 4.7 naval guns, -under General Colvile, who was directed to follow the leading column at -a distance of ten miles. Hamilton proposed to march forward on the 2nd -of May, but an order from headquarters enjoined a halt; nor was it until -the afternoon of the 3rd that the force reached Jacobsrust, as it is -called by the inhabitants; Isabellasfontein, as our maps record. A -little cavalry skirmishing in the neighbourhood of the camp resulted in -the death of one Lancer. - -On the 4th of May the whole army moved forward again, Lord Roberts -passing through Brandfort towards Smaldeel, Hamilton continuing his -march on Winburg. This day did not pass without fighting, for scarcely -had the troops left camp when a patter of musketry warned the General -that his Cavalry had become engaged. Riding forward, he was the witness -of a very dashing cavalry exploit. Across the line of advance was drawn -up a strong force of the enemy, estimated at 4,000 men and thirteen -guns. These, in a good position along a range of wooded bluffs, promised -a sufficient task for the troops during the day. But now, suddenly, -from the direction of Brandfort, a new army of Boers began to appear, -riding swiftly down to join hands with their comrades athwart the road, -and fall on the left flank of the column. - -The thing was urgent, and perhaps vital. But between the fast converging -Boer forces, at the angle where they would meet, ran a long ridge of -indefinite extent. General Broadwood at once, without a moment's delay, -galloped forward, and with two squadrons of the Guards' Cavalry and two -of the 10th Hussars seized it. The Boers were already scrambling up its -lower slopes. A sharp fight immediately opened. Kitchener's Horse, -hurrying up in support, occupied a further point of the ridge, and the -Dutch, after a determined but futile attempt to clear the hill, fell -back. The junction of the two Boer columns was prevented. It seems -that the whole of their plan for the day was based on this first -condition, and in an army where every individual soldier must have the -details of any plan explained to him it is not easy to make fresh -dispositions on the field. - -Indeed, a sort of panic seems to have taken hold of the enemy, for -without waiting for the Infantry attack to develop they fled forthwith -at great speed, galloping madly across the drift--as the British -proprietor of Welcome Farm told me--horsemen and guns, pell-mell, in -downright rout, pursued, so swift was their departure, only by the -shells of the Horse Artillery. - -The losses in this brief affair were not large, and almost entirely -among the Cavalry. In those few minutes of firing on the ridge about a -dozen troopers had been hit. Lord Airlie was slightly wounded in the -arm, and Lieutenant Rose, Royal Horse Guards, was killed. He had bee -sent forward to see what lay beyond the further crest of the hill, and -found that deadly riflemen lay there waiting for a certain victim. He -fell pierced by several bullets, and lived only for half an hour. - -This officer was a most zealous soldier. Though possessed of private -means which would have enabled him to lead a life of ease and pleasure, -he had for several years devoted himself assiduously to the military -profession. He went to India as a volunteer during the Tirah Campaign, -and served with distinction on Sir Penn Symons' staff--general and -aide-de-camp both vanished now, as the foam fades in the wake of a fast -ship! From India he hastened to West Africa, and in that vile and -pestilential region won a considerable reputation; indeed, he was to -have received the Distinguished Service Order for his part in recent -operations there had not another war intervened. He arrived at the -Cape, scarcely a month ago, full of hope and energy. This is the end; -and while it is one which a soldier must be ready to meet, deep sympathy -will be felt for the father, from whom the public necessities have now -required two gallant sons. - -Though the disorderly and demoralised nature of the Boer flight through -Welcome Farm was known throughout the British Army, it was not expected -that so strong a position as the bluffs behind the Vet River would be -yielded without a shot fired. This, nevertheless, proved to be the -case, for when, on the morning of the 6th, Hamilton resumed his advance, -he found that no force of the enemy stood between him and Winburg. - -He therefore sent, shortly after noon, a staff officer, Captain Balfour -to wit, under flag of truce, with a letter to the mayor of the town -summoning him forthwith to surrender the town and all stores therein, -and promising that if this were done he would use every effort to -protect private property, and that whatever foodstuffs were required by -the troops should be paid for. This message, which was duly heralded by -the sound of a trumpet, concluded by saying that unless an acceptance -was received within two hours the General would understand that his -offer had been declined. - -Thus accredited, Captain Balfour made his way into the town and was soon -the centre of an anxious and excited crowd of burghers and others who -filled the market square. The mayor, the landdrost, and other prominent -persons--indeed, all the inhabitants--were eager to avail themselves of -the good terms, and a satisfactory settlement was almost arranged when, -arriving swiftly from the northeast, Philip Botha and a commando of 500 -men, mostly Germans and Hollanders, all very truculent since they were -as yet unbeaten, entered the town. - -A violent and passionate scene ensued. Botha declared he would never -surrender Winburg without a fight. Dissatisfied with the attentions -paid him by Captain Balfour, he turned furiously on him and rated him -soundly. Several of the Free Staters had asked what would be done to -them if they laid down their arms. Balfour had replied that they would -be permitted to return to their farms, unless actually captured on the -field. This Botha held to be a breach of the laws of war, and he -thereupon charged the officer with attempting to suborn his burghers. -What had he to say that he should not be made a prisoner? 'I ask -favours of no Dutchman,' replied Balfour, sternly. - -'Arrest that man!' shouted Botha, in a fury; 'I shall begin shooting -soon.' At these shameful words a great commotion arose. The women -screamed, the mayor and landdrost rushed forward in the hopes of -averting bloodshed. The Boers raised their rifles in menace, and the -unarmed British envoy flourished his white flag indignantly. - -For several minutes it seemed that an actual scuffle, possibly a -tragedy, would occur. But the influence of the townsfolk, who knew that -their liberty and property lay in the hands of the Imperial General, and -that the great siege guns were even then being dragged into effective -range, prevailed, and Philip Botha, followed by his men, galloped -furiously from the square towards the north. - -That afternoon General Ian Hamilton entered Winburg at the head of his -troops. Under a shady tree outside the town the mayor and landdrost -tendered their submission and two large silver keys. The Union Jack was -hoisted in the market-place amid the cheers of the British section of -the inhabitants, and, as each battalion marching through the streets saw -the famous emblem of pride and power, bright in the rays of the setting -sun, these feeble or interested plaudits were drowned in the loud -acclamations of the victorious invaders. - -Hamilton was expected to arrive on the 7th, if no opposition was -encountered, He had fought nearly every day, and reached the town on the -evening of the 5th. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - THE ARMY OF THE RIGHT FLANK - - - Kroonstadt: May 16, 1900. - - -On the same day that Ian Hamilton's force won their fight at Houtnek, to -wit, the 1st of May, the advance of the main army towards Pretoria, long -expected, long prepared, long delayed, began, and the Eleventh Division -marched north from Bloemfontein to join the Seventh, which was -entrenched at Karree Siding. On the 3rd both Infantry divisions moved -forward along the railway, their left protected by Gordon's Cavalry -Brigade and Hutton's Mounted Infantry, and after a sharp cannonade drove -the Boers from their positions covering Brandfort and entered the town. -The advance was resumed on the 5th, and the enemy were again met with, -this time holding the line of the Vet River. Another artillery action -ensued, in which the British 5-inch and naval 4.7 guns were very -effective, and at the end of which the West Australians and other parts -of Hutton's Mounted Infantry force, pushed across the river in gallant -style and captured an important kopje. The Dutchmen then retreated, and -the Field-Marshal's headquarters on the 6th were fixed in Smaldeel. His -losses since leaving Bloemfontein had not amounted to twenty-five men. - -Ian Hamilton, in spite of the long marches his troops had made, was -impatient to push on from Winburg without delay, and, following the -track to Ventersburg, to seize the drifts across the Sand River, twenty -miles to the north. The great speed of his last movement had outpaced -the Boers, and their convoys were struggling along abreast of, and even -behind, the British column, trying vainly to slip across our front, and -join the burgher forces accumulating for the defence of Kroonstadt. By -marching forthwith--great though the strain might be--the General hoped -to secure the bloodless passage of the river, and perhaps cut up some of -these same toiling convoys. Accordingly, having collected from the town -about three days' stores--Sir Henry Colvile helping him unselfishly with -mule waggons--he set his brigades in motion on the afternoon of the 6th, -and marched nine miles towards the Sand. - -But Lord Roberts had decided to remain at Smaldeel until his temporary -bridge over the Vet River was made and the trains running, and he did -not choose to run the risk of the Boers concentrating all their forces -upon any single division of his army, such as would be incurred if -Hamilton pushed forward alone. The principle was indisputable; but, of -course, in practice it resolved itself into another instance of -balancing drawbacks, for delay gave the enemy time to get his breath, -and meant that the Sand River passage would be opposed. Besides, if the -Boers had flung all their strength upon Hamilton, we were 7,000 -bayonets, 3,000 horse, and nearly forty guns, and would have beat them -off with a shocking slaughter. To us it seemed a great pity to wait; -but to the Chief, in whose eyes the Army of the Right Flank was but one -column of that far-flung line which stretched from Rundle near Senekal, -along the front of the main army to Methuen near Boshof, Hunter at -Warrenton, and Mahon far away on the fringe of the Kalahari desert, it -must have been a very small matter, and certainly not one justifying any -loss of cohesion in the general scheme. So I have no doubt that it was -right to make us halt on the 7th and 8th. - -On the former of these two days of rest Lord Roberts sent for General -Hamilton to meet him at a point on the branch railway line mid-way -between Winburg and Smaldeel, and they had a long private conference -together. On the 9th, the whole army marched forward again towards the -Sand River. I rode with the General, who managed somehow to find -himself among the cavalry patrols of the right flank guard, and we -watched with telescopes three long lines of dust in the eastward, which, -under examination, developed into horsemen and waggons marching swiftly -north and turning more and more across our front. It was clear that if -we had pushed on without halting, all these commandos would have been -prevented from reaching Kroonstadt. The General contemplated them -hungrily for some time, but they were too far off to attack, bearing in -mind the great combination of which we were a part. The flanking -patrols, however, exchanged a few shots. - -The march was not a long one, and by mid-day we reached the -halting-place, a mile south of the river. The headquarters were fixed -in a large farm which stood close to the waggon-track we followed. - -This farmhouse was certainly the best purely Dutch homestead I have ever -seen in the 500 miles I have ridden about the Free State. It was a -large square building, with a deep verandah, and a pretty flower-garden -in front, and half a dozen barns and stables around it. The -construction of a dam across the neighbouring spruit had formed a wide -and pleasant pool, in which many good fat ducks and geese were taking -refuge from the wandering soldier. At the back, indeed, on all sides -but the front of the farm, rose a thick belt of fir-trees. Within the -house the ground-floor was divided into three excellent bedrooms, with -old-fashioned feather-beds and quaint wooden bedsteads, a prim but -spacious parlour, a kitchen, pantry, and storeroom. The parlour -deserved the greatest attention. The furniture was dark and massive. -The boards of the floor were deeply stained. In the middle was a good -carpet upon which an ample oval table stood. The walls were hung with -curious prints or coloured plates, and several texts in Dutch. One pair -of plates I remember represented the ten stages of man's life and -woman's life, and showed both in every period from the cradle to the -grave, which latter was not reached until the comfortable age of one -hundred. The woman's fortunes were especially prosperous. At birth she -sprawled contentedly in a cradle, whilst loving parents bent over her in -rapture, and dutiful angels hung attendant in the sky. At ten she -scampered after a hoop. At twenty she reclined on the stalwart shoulder -of an exemplary lover. At thirty she was engaged in teaching seven -children their letters. At forty, she celebrated a silver wedding. At -fifty, still young and blooming, she attended the christening of a -grandchild. At sixty, it was a great-grandchild. At seventy she -enjoyed a golden wedding. At eighty she was smilingly engaged in -knitting. Even at ninety she was well preserved, nor could she with -reason complain of her lot in life when, at a hundred, the inevitable -hour arrived. 'Be fruitful and multiply,' was the meaning of a Dutch -text on the opposite wall, and a dozen children black and white (little -Kaffirs, the offspring of the servants, playing with the sons and -daughters of the house) showed that the spirit of the injunction was -observed; and these are things with which the statesman will have to -reckon. - -The inmates of the farm consisted of the old man, a venerable gentleman -of about sixty years, his dame, a few years younger, three grown-up -daughters, a rather ill-favoured spinster sister, and seven or eight -children or grandchildren of varying ages. There were in all seven sons -or grandsons--two were married and had farms of their own; but all, -including even one of fourteen, were 'on commando' at the wars, some, -perhaps, looking at us and their home from the heights across the river. - -The General politely requested shelter for the night, and a bedroom and -the parlour were placed at his disposal; not very enthusiastically, -indeed, but that was only natural. The staff settled down in the -verandah so as not to disturb the family. Ian Hamilton, keenly -interested in everything, began at once to ask the old lady questions -through an interpreter. She gave her answers with no good grace, and -when the General inquired about her youngest fighting son--he of -fourteen--her sour face showed signs of emotion, and the conversation -ended for the day. On the morrow, however, just before he crossed the -river, he had to come back to the telegraph-tent pitched near the farm, -and found time to see her again. - -'Tell her,' he said to the interpreter, 'that we have won the battle -to-day.' - -They told her, and she bowed her head with some dignity. - -'Tell her that the Dutch will now certainly be beaten in the war.' - -No response. - -'Perhaps her sons will be taken prisoners.' - -No answer. - -'Now tell her to write down on a piece of paper the name of the -youngest, and give it to my aide-de-camp; and then when he is captured -she must write to me or to the Hoofd-General, and we will send him back -to her, and not keep him a prisoner.' - -She thawed a little at this, and expressed a hope that he had been -comfortable while beneath her roof, and then--for the guns were still -firing--he had to hurry away. But the aide-de-camp remained behind for -the paper. - -During the time we spent in this homely place I made a thorough -inspection of the farm, especially the parlour, where I found one very -curious book. It was a collection of national songs and ballads, -compiled, and in part written, by Mr. Reitz. I afterwards succeeded in -buying another copy in Ventersburg; indeed, it has been widely -disseminated. The first part consists of patriotic Boer poems--the -Volkslied, the Battle of Majuba, the Battle of Laings Nek, and other -similar themes. The second half of the book is filled with Reitz's -translations of English songs and well-known ditties into the _taal_. -John Gilpin, besides being a burgher of credit and renown, was eke a -Field-Cornet of famous Bloemfontein. Young Lochinvar had come from out -of the Boshof district. The Landdrost's daughter of Winburg found a -lover no less faithful than a famous swain of Islington. The pictures -were mightily diverting. The old Field-Cornet Gilpin--'Jan Jurgens,' as -he called himself now--was shown galloping wildly along, on a pulling -Basuto pony, through the straggling streets of, let us say, Ventersburg, -his slouch hat crammed over his eyes, his white beard flapping in the -wind, while a stately vrouw, four children, and a Kaffir, flung up their -hands in mingled wonder and derision. - -One piece began: - - Engels! Engels! alles Engels! Engels wat jij siet en hoor. - Ins ons skole, in ons kerke, word ons modertaal vermoor. - - -I cannot read Dutch, but the meaning and object of the book were -sufficiently clear without that knowledge. - -F. W. Reitz, sometime President of the Free State, now State Secretary -of the Transvaal, looked far ahead, and worked hard. This, the -foundation-stone of a vernacular literature, was but one act in the long -scheme of policy, pursued, year in year out, with tireless energy, and -indomitable perseverance, to manufacture a new Dutch nation in South -Africa--the policy which, in the end, had brought a conquering army to -this quiet farm, and scattered the schemers far and wide. But what a -game it must have been to play! Only a little more patience, a little -less pride and over-confidence, concessions here, concessions there, -anything to gain time, and then, some day--a mighty Dutch Republic, 'the -exchange of a wealthier Amsterdam, the schools of a more learned -Leyden,' and, above all--no cursed Engels. - -I was considering these matters, only suggested here, when messengers -and the sound of firing came in from the eastward. The news that small -parties of Boers were engaging our right flank guard did not prevent -Hamilton riding over to meet the Chief, nor tempt us to quit the cool -verandah of the farm; but when, suddenly, at about three o'clock, fifty -shots rang out in quick succession, scarcely 500 yards away, every one -got up in a hurry, and, snatching pistols and belts, ran out to see what -mischance had occurred. The scene that met our eyes was unusual. Down -the side of the hill there poured a regular cascade of -antelope--certainly not less than 700 or 800 in number--maddened with -fear at finding themselves in the midst of the camp, and seeking -frantically for a refuge. This spectacle, combined with the hope of -venison, was too much for the soldiers, and forthwith a wild and very -dangerous fire broke out, which was not stopped until fifteen or twenty -antelopes were killed, and one Australian Mounted Infantryman wounded in -the stomach. The injury of the latter was at first thought to be -serious, and the rumour ran that he was dead; but, luckily, the bullet -only cut the skin. - -Thus disturbed, I thought it might be worth while to walk up to the -outpost line and see what was passing there. When I reached the two -guns which were posted on the near ridge, the officers were in -consultation. Away across the Sand River, near two little kopjes, was a -goodly Boer commando. They had just arrived from the east of our line -of march, and having skirted round our pickets had set themselves down -to rest and refresh. Spread as they were on the smooth grass, the -telescope showed every detail. There were about 150 horsemen, with five -ox-waggons and two guns. The horses were grazing, but not off-saddled. -The men were lying or sitting on the ground. Evidently they thought -themselves out of range. The subaltern commanding the guns was not -quite sure that he agreed with them. Some Colonial Mounted Infantry -officers standing near were almost indignant that the guns should let -such a chance slip. The subaltern was very anxious to fire--'really -think I could reach the brutes'; but he was afraid he would get into -trouble if he fired his guns at any range greater than artillery custom -approves. His range finders said '6,000.' Making allowances for the -clear atmosphere, I should have thought it was more. At last he decided -to have a shot. 'Sight for 5,600, and let's see how much we fall -short.' The gun cocked its nose high in the air and flung its shell -accordingly. To our astonishment the projectile passed far over the -Boer commando, and burst nearly 500 yards beyond them: to our -astonishment and to theirs. The burghers lost no time in changing their -position. The men ran to their horses, and, mounting, galloped away in -a dispersing cloud. Their guns whipped up and made for the further -hills. The ox-waggons sought the shelter of a neighbouring donga. -Meanwhile, the artillery subaltern, delighted at the success of his -venture, pursued all these objects with his fire, and using both his -guns threw at least a dozen shells among them. Material result: one -horse killed. This sort of artillery fire is what we call waste of -ammunition when we do it to others, and a confounded nuisance when they -do it to us. After all, who is there who enjoys being disturbed by -shells just as he is settling himself comfortably to rest, after a long -march? And who fights the better next day for having to scurry a mile -and a half to cover with iron pursuers at his heels? Even as it was an -opportunity was lost. We ought to have sneaked up six guns, a dozen if -there were a dozen handy, all along the ridge, and let fly with the -whole lot, at ranges varying from 5,000 to 6,000 yards with time -shrapnel. Then there would have been a material as well as a moral -effect. 'Pooh,' says the scientific artillerist, 'you would have used -fifty shells, tired your men, and disturbed your horses, to hit a dozen -scallawags and stampede 150. That is not the function of artillery.' -Nevertheless, function or no function, it is war, and the way to win -war. Harass, bait, and worry your enemy until you establish a funk. -Once he is more frightened of you than you are of him, all your -enterprises will prosper; and if fifty shells can in any way accelerate -that happy condition, be sure they are not wasted. - -The afternoon passed uneventfully away, though the outposts were -gradually drawn into a rifle duel with the Dutch sharpshooters in the -scrub across the river. In the evening the General returned from his -conference with Lord Roberts, and told us the passage was to be forced -on the morrow all along the line. The Army of the Right Flank would -cross by the nearest drift in our present front. The Seventh Division -inclining to its right would come into line on our left. The -Field-Marshal, with the Guards and the rest of Pole-Carew's Division, -would strike north along the line of the railway. French, with two -Cavalry brigades and Hutton's Mounted Infantry brigade, was to swing -around the enemy's right and push hard for Ventersburg siding. -Broadwood from our flank, with the Second Cavalry Brigade, and such of -the Second Mounted Infantry Brigade as could be spared, was to be thrust -through as soon as the Boer front was broken, and try to join hands with -French, thus, perhaps, cutting off and encircling the Boer right. The -diagram--it is not a map--on page 172 will help to explain the scheme. - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM TO EXPLAIN THE PASSAGE OF THE SAND RIVER, MAY 10, -1900. The dotted lines show what was proposed; the continuous lines show -what was done. The crosses indicate the Boers.] - -The operation of the next day was one of the largest and most extended -movements of the war, although, probably from this cause, it was -attended by very little loss of life. Upon the British side six -Infantry and six Mounted brigades, with rather more than 100 guns, were -brought into action along a front of over twenty-five miles. The Boers, -however, still preserved their flanks. Upon the west they succeeded in -holding up French, and on the east they curled round Hamilton's right -and rear so that his action here, which in its early stages resembled -that afterwards fought at Diamond Hill, was of a piercing rather than a -turning nature. But in thus amazingly extending their scanty forces, -which, altogether, did not number more than 9,000 men, with twenty-five -guns, the enemy became so weak all along their front that the attacking -divisions broke through everywhere, as an iron bar might smash thin ice, -with scarcely any shock. - -On the evening of the 10th, the British forces, in their extended line, -lay spread along the south bank of the river, just out of cannon-shot of -the Boer positions on the further side. French, indeed, did not rest -content with securing his ford twelve miles to the west of the railway, -but pushed his two brigades across before dark. The wisdom of this -movement is disputed. On the one hand, it is contended that by crossing -he revealed the intention of the Commander-in-Chief, and drew more -opposition against himself the next day. On the other, it is urged that -he was right to get across unopposed while he could, and that his -purpose was equally revealed, no matter which side of the river he -stayed. During the night Ian Hamilton, at the other end of the line, -seized the drift in his front with a battalion, which promptly -entrenched itself. Tucker, who proposed to cross near the same point, -despatched the Cheshire regiment for a similar purpose. The single -battalion was sufficient; but the importance and wisdom of the movement -was proved by the fact that the enemy during the night sent 400 men to -occupy the river bank and hold the passage, and found themselves -forestalled. - -At daybreak the engagement was begun along the whole front. I am only -concerned with Ian Hamilton's operations; but, in order that these may -be understood, some mention must be made of the other forces. French -advanced as soon as it was light, and almost immediately became engaged -with a strong force of Boers, who barred his path, and prevented his -closing on the railway as intended. A sharp Cavalry action followed, in -which the Boers fought with much stubbornness; and the Afrikander Horse, -a corps of formidable mercenaries, even came to close quarters with -Dickson's brigade, and were charged. French persevered throughout the -day, making very little progress towards the railway, but gaining ground -gradually to the north. Although his casualties numbered more than a -hundred, he was still some distance from Ventersburg siding at -nightfall. The centre attack properly awaited the progress of the -flanking movements, and was, during the early part of the day, contented -with an artillery bombardment, chiefly conducted by its heavy guns. -Tucker and Hamilton, however, fell on with much determination, and were -soon briskly engaged. - -Ian Hamilton began his action at half-past five, with his heavy guns, -which shelled the opposite heights leisurely, while the Infantry and -Cavalry were moving off. The Boer position before us ran along a line -of grassy ridges, with occasional kopjes, which sloped up gradually and -reached their summits about a mile from the river. But besides this -position, which was the objective of the force, the Boers, who held all -the country to the east, began a disquieting attack along our right and -right rear, and although the Mounted Infantry, and principally -Kitchener's Horse, under Major Fowle, held them at arm's length -throughout the day, the firing in this quarter caused the General some -concern, and occupied the greater part of his attention. - -At six o'clock the Twenty-first Brigade began to cross the river, and -Bruce-Hamilton, stretching out to his left, soon developed a wide front. -The Boers now opened fire with two or three field-guns and a 'pom-pom,' -which latter was quickly silenced by our heavy pieces. At the same -time, the Nineteenth Brigade, who were containing the enemy's left, -became engaged with their skirmishers in the scrub by the river. The -four batteries of Field Artillery also came into action, and were pushed -forward across the drift as soon as sufficient space was gained by the -Infantry. At a little after seven the head of General Tucker's Division -appeared on the plain to our left, and that determined officer thrust -his men over the river in most vigorous style. Moreover, seeing -Bruce-Hamilton committed to an assault, he swung two of his own -batteries round to the eastward, and so rendered us material assistance. - -[Illustration: IAN HAMILTON'S ACTION AT THE SAND RIVER, MAY 10, 1900. -The crosses indicate the Boers.] - -Both Smith-Dorrien, who directed the two Infantry brigades, and Ian -Hamilton were fully alive to the grave dangers of crowding too many -troops on to a narrow front, and the Infantry attack was very sparingly -fed with supports, until it became completely extended. This condition -was attained about eleven o'clock, when the Camerons were sent across -the river to clear the scrub and prolong the line to the right. -Bruce-Hamilton now had his deployment completed, and with an admirable -simultaneity the whole of the assaulting Infantry rose up and advanced -together upon the enemy's position, covered by the heavy fire of -twenty-six guns. The panorama was now very extensive. Far away to the -left the smoke of lyddite shells, and the curious speck of the -war-balloon high in the clear air, showed that the centre was engaged. -The whole of the Seventh Division had crossed the Sand, and were now -curving to the north-west amid a crackle of fire. Before us the slopes -were sprinkled with brown dots moving swiftly upwards. The crest of the -ridge was fringed with exploding shells. For a few minutes the Boers -fired steadily, and the dust jumped amid the Sussex Regiment and the -City Imperial Volunteers. But both Infantry and Artillery attacks were -far beyond the capacity of the defence to resist, and by noon the whole -of the heights beyond the Sand were in the British possession. - -Ian Hamilton had meanwhile ordered baggage and Cavalry to cross. -Broadwood was over the enemy's position almost as soon as the Infantry. -He proceeded to move in the direction of Ventersburg siding. The enemy, -however, had covered themselves with a strong rearguard, and the Cavalry -were soon opposed by three guns and a force of riflemen of considerable -numbers. Whether Broadwood would have thought it worth while to make -here the effort which he afterwards made in the action of Diamond Hill, -and order a charge, is uncertain; for at this moment a misunderstanding -arose which induced him to change his plans altogether. - -The Boer pressure on our right rear had been growing stronger and -stronger all the morning, and at length Hamilton, wishing to check the -enemy sharply, so as to draw his rearguard over the river after his -baggage, told his chief of artillery to find him a battery. Now it -happened that only one of the two horse batteries, 'P,' had been able to -go with the Cavalry, the other, 'Q,' being too tired to keep up. The -chief of artillery therefore proposed to send for the tired battery. -Unfortunately, by some mistake, either in giving or taking the order, -the orderly was sent for 'P' instead of 'Q.' The man, a sergeant-major, -galloped across the river, and, understanding that the matter was -urgent, hurried after Broadwood, overtook him just as he was becoming -engaged, and demanded the battery. Broadwood, who knew that Hamilton -would never deprive him of his guns except for some very urgent reason, -sent them at once, abandoned his movement to the north-west, which -indeed was now impracticable without artillery, and concluding that the -rearguard was seriously involved, turned sharply to the east to assist -them. Explanations arrived too late to make it worth while to revert to -the original plan, and, perhaps, seeing that French was unable to make -Ventersburg siding, it was just as well that Broadwood did not try -alone. - -Broadwood's latest movement, or the action of the artillery, or the -knowledge that the British had successfully forced the passage of the -river at all points, induced the Boers who were assailing the rearguard -to desist, and the musketry in that quarter gradually died away. -Meanwhile, by the exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Maxse, the baggage had -mostly been dragged across the river, and Ian Hamilton made haste to -overtake his victorious Infantry, who had already disappeared into the -valley beyond the enemy's position. By the time that we reached the top -of the high ground, Bruce-Hamilton's leading battalions were nearly a -mile further on, and the tail of Broadwood's brigade was vanishing in a -high cloud of dust to the eastward. The City Imperial Volunteers, who -had lost a few men in the attack, were resting on the hill after their -advance, and eating their biscuits. Several dead Boers had been found -lying among the rocks, and a burial party was at work digging a grave -for these and for four of our own men who had fallen close by. There -were also a few prisoners--Transvaalers for the most part--who had -surrendered when the troops fixed bayonets. Four miles away to the -north-east the trees and houses of Ventersburg rose from a grassy -hollow. - -The General decided to bivouac in the valley beyond the enemy's -position, and to set his pickets upon the hills to the northward. He -also sent an officer with a flag of truce into Ventersburg to demand the -surrender of the town, and directed Broadwood to detach a regiment and -some Mounted Infantry to occupy it, should the enemy comply. In case -they should desire to hold the town the 5-inch guns were brought into -position on the captured heights. - -Hoping to secure some supplies, particularly bottled beer, before -everything should be requisitioned by the army, I rode forward after the -flag of truce had gone in and waited where I could see what followed. -When, about an hour later, a cavalry force began to advance from the -direction of Broadwood upon the town, I knew that all was well, and -trotted on to join them. My road led me within a few hundred yards of -the town, but, luckily for me, I did not enter it alone, and hurried to -join the troops. All of a sudden the ominous patter of rifle shots broke -the stillness of the evening, and, turning to whence the sound came, I -saw a score of Boers standing on the sky-line about a mile away and -firing at the advancing Cavalry, or, perhaps, for I was much nearer, at -me. The next minute there galloped out of the town about a score of -Dutchmen, who fled in the direction of their friends on the western -sky-line. Had I ridden straight into the town I should have run into -these people's jaws. I lost no time in joining the Cavalry, and entered -the streets with the squadron of Blues. It was a miserable little -place, not to be compared with Winburg. There were a few good stores and -a small hotel, where I found what I sought; but the whole town was very -dirty and squalid. Thirty or forty troopers of Roberts's Horse were -firing at the fugitive burghers from the edge of the buildings and -gardens, while a score of reckless fellows were galloping after them in -excited pursuit. The Boers on the hill kept up a brisk fire to help -their comrades in, and not a few of the bullets kicked up the dust in -the village streets, without in the least disturbing the women and -children who crowded together to look at the war, in blissful ignorance -of their danger. When some of these people were told that they would -perhaps be killed if they came out of their houses while the fighting -was going on, they clutched their children and sought shelter with an -energy at which, since, after all, nobody was hurt, it was pardonable to -laugh. - -Night put an end to all skirmishing, and under its cover the Boers -retreated--the greater part to Kroonstadt, which, be it remembered, they -meant to hold to the death; but a considerable proportion to the east, -where they collected with the commandos under Christian de Wet. -Broadwood's brigade had captured about a dozen waggons and thirty -prisoners. In all there were fifty-two unwounded and seven wounded -Boers in our hands at the end of the day. The casualties in Hamilton's -force were under fifty. Tucker and Pole-Carew may have lost the same -number between them. French, who encountered the most stubborn -resistance, had a little over 120. But, in any case, the passage of the -Sand River in this long straggling action was cheaply won at a cost of -under 250 officers and men. - -All our beasts were so exhausted by the labour of dragging the waggons -through the steep and rocky drift of the Sand, and by the long pull up -the hills on the opposite side, that few of the regiments got their -baggage that night, and hence it was impossible to make an early start -next morning. But it was known that the Field-Marshal meant to reach -Kroonstadt on the next day, and as all the information at our disposal -indicated that the Boers were entrenching a strong position along a line -of wooded bluffs called the Boschrand, just south of the town, every -minute of halt was grudged. - -We moved at eleven o'clock, heading direct for Kroonstadt, and -persevered for two hours after the sun had set, making in all nearly -seventeen miles. The country to our left was flat and open, and as we -converged upon the main army we could see, like red clouds with the -sunset behind them, the long parallel lines of dust, which marked the -marches of the Seventh and Eleventh Divisions; and we knew besides, -that, beyond both columns and west of the railroad, French was driving -his weary squadrons forward upon another wide swoop. The army drew -together in the expectation of a great action. But for all our marching -we could never make up the extra distance we had to cover in coming -diagonally from the flank, and as darkness fell we realised that the -Seventh Division was drawing across our front, and that Pole-Carew with -the guard was striding along ahead of us all. That night Lord Roberts -slept at America Siding, scarcely six miles from the Boschrand position. - -Ian Hamilton marched on again at dawn, transport and convoys struggling -along miles behind, and the fine-drawn yet eager Infantry close upon the -heels of the Cavalry screen. At times we listened for the sound of guns, -for if the enemy stood, the Field-Marshal must come into contact with -them by eight o'clock. And when, after nine o'clock, no cannonade was -heard, the rumour ran through the army that the Boers had fled without -giving battle, the pace slacked off, and the Infantry began to feel the -effects of their exertions. - -At eleven a message from Lord Roberts reached General Broadwood to say -that it did not matter by which road Hamilton's column marched in, as -the enemy was not holding his positions. Thereupon I determined, since -there was to be no battle, to see the capture of Kroonstadt, and being -mounted on a fresh pony I had bought at Winburg, a beautiful and -tireless little beast, by an English blood sire out of a Basuto mare, I -soon left the Cavalry behind, caught up the rear of Tucker's transport, -pushed on four or five miles along the line of march of his division, -struck the tail of the Eleventh Division, and finally overtook the head -of the Infantry columns about three miles from the town. - -Lord Roberts entered Kroonstadt at about mid-day with all his staff. -The Eleventh Division, including the Guards' Brigade, marched past him -in the market square, and then, passing through the town, went into -bivouac on the northern side. The rest of the army halted south of -Kroonstadt. Gordon's Cavalry Brigade a mile from the town; the Seventh -Division and Ian Hamilton's force three miles away, in a wide valley -among the scrub-covered, trench-rimmed hills the Boers had not dared -defend. French, whose turning movement had again been obstinately -opposed, reached the railway line north of the town too late to -intercept any rolling stock. Indeed, Major Hunter Weston, a daring and -enterprising engineer, arrived at the bridge he had hoped to blow up -only to find that it had been blown up by the enemy. - -Thus, by one long spring from Bloemfontein, Kroonstadt, the new capital -of the Free State, was captured. It has the reputation of being one of -the prettiest places in the Republic, but even when allowances are made -for the circumstances under which we saw it, it does not seem that its -fame is just. The town looked a little larger than Winburg, though not -nearly so clean and well-kept, and the whole place was smothered in -reddish dust, and dried up by the sun. The Boers retreated northward -along the railway, in spite of all President Steyn's exhortations, which -included the public sjambokking of several unwilling burghers, and did -not stop except to wreck the permanent way until they reached Rhenoster -kopjes. The President, with the members of the Executive Council and the -seat of Government--which needs to have a good pair of legs beneath it -in times like these--withdrew to Lindley, whither, for various reasons, -it soon became desirable to follow them. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - LINDLEY - - - Heilbron: May 22, 1900. - - -Having arrived thus prosperously at Kroonstadt, Lord Roberts determined -to halt until his supplies were replenished and the railway line from -Bloemfontein in working order. Moreover, in the expectation of a -general action outside the town, he had concentrated all his troops and -had drawn the Army of the Right Flank close in to the main force. -Before he advanced again towards the enemy's position on the Rhenoster -River, he wished to extend his front widely, as he had done in the -previous operation. The scheme of advance by converging columns -required a pause after each concentration before the movement could be -repeated; so that while the Field-Marshal himself remained stationary -his energetic Lieutenant was again on the move. - -General Ian Hamilton, with the same troops as before and an addition of -four 'pom-poms,' started from his camp outside Kroonstadt on the 15th, -and after a short march encamped on the eastern side of the town -preparatory to moving on Lindley, whither President Steyn had withdrawn. -The question of supplies was a very troublesome one, and it was no light -matter to thrust out fifty miles into a hostile country with only three -and a half days' food and forage in hand. Suppose anything should -happen to the convoys which were to follow. Meat in plenty could be -found everywhere, but the stores of flour and other farinaceous goods -which the farm-houses might contain were insufficient and precarious. -Even the benefits of the abundant meat supply were to some extent -discounted by the scarcity of wood, for it is not much satisfaction to a -soldier to be provided with a leg of mutton if he has no means of -cooking. The deficiencies were hardly made good by the arrival of a -small convoy, the greater part of which consisted of disinfectants for -standing camps, and the rest--so valuable in a grass country--of -compressed hay. - -Nevertheless, being determined, and trusting, not without reason, in his -supply officer, Captain Atcherley, Hamilton started on the 16th, and the -Infantry bivouacked eighteen miles from Kroonstadt on the Lindley -road--it would perhaps be less misleading to write track. The Cavalry -brigade with one corps of Mounted Infantry under Broadwood were pushed -ten miles further on, and seized a fine iron bridge, not marked on any -map, which spans an important spruit at Kaalfontein. Here trustworthy -information was received that a large force of Boers with guns was -retreating before Rundle's column (Eighth Division) northwards upon -Lindley, and deeming it important to occupy the town before they -arrived, Hamilton ordered the Cavalry to hurry on and take possession of -the heights to the north of it. It was a double march when ordinary -marches were long. The result, however, justified the effort. -Broadwood 'surprised'--the word is taken from the Boer accounts--Lindley -on the 17th. Scarcely fifty Boers were at hand to defend it. A waggon -with 60,000*l.* in specie barely escaped from the clutches of the -Cavalry. After a brief skirmish the town surrendered. The British loss -was three men wounded. Broadwood then retired as directed by his chief -to the commanding hill to the north to bivouac. This hill may for -convenience be called 'Lindley Hill' in the subsequent narrative. - -The Infantry and baggage also made a long march on the 17th, but as the -road was obstructed by several bad spruits or _dongas_, they were still -fourteen miles from Lindley when night closed in. Even then the -transport was toiling on the road, and a large part of it did not come -in, and then in an exhausted condition, until after midnight. I wonder -how many people in England realise what a _spruit_ is, and how it -affects military operations. Those who live in highly developed -countries, where the surface of the earth has been shaped to our -convenience by the patient labour of many years, are accustomed to find -the road running serenely forward across the valleys, and they scarcely -notice the bridges and culverts over which it passes. All is different -in South Africa. The long column of transport trails across the plain. -The veldt in front looks smooth and easy going. Presently, however, -there is a block. What is the matter? Let us ride forward to see: and -so onward to where the single string of waggons merges in a vast crowd -of transport, twenty rows abreast, mule carts, Cape carts, ox waggons, -ambulances, and artillery, all waiting impatiently, jostling each other, -while drivers and conductors swear and squabble. Here is the spruit--a -great chasm in the ground, fifty feet deep, a hundred yards from side to -side. The banks are precipitous and impassable at all points except -where the narrow single track winds steeply and unevenly down. The -bottom is a quagmire, and though the engineers are doing their best to -level and improve the roadway, it is still a combination of the Earl's -Court water chute and the Slough of Despond. One by one, after a hot -dispute for precedence, the waggons advance. The brakes must be screwed -up to their tightest grip lest the ponderous vehicles rush forward down -the slope and overwhelm their oxen. Even with this precaution the -descent of each is a crash, a scramble, and a bump. At the bottom like -a feather-bed lies the quagmire. Here one waggon in every three sticks. -The mules give in after one effort--unworthy hybrids. The oxen strain -with greater perseverance. But in the end it is the man who has to do -the hauling. Forthwith come fatigue parties of weary men--it has been a -long march already to soldiers fully equipped. Drag ropes are affixed, -and so with sweat, blood, and stretching sinew, long whips cracking and -whistling, white men heaving and natives yelping encouragement, another -waggon comes safely through. And there are seven miles of transport! - -On the morning of the 18th the Infantry were about to move off, when a -patter of rifle shots to the north of the road reminded us of the -presence of the enemy. A foraging party of Major Rimington's Guides had -ridden up to a farm, which stood in full view of the camp and flew (or -was it hoisted afterwards?) a white flag. Arrived there, they were -received by a volley from five Boers in hiding near. Conceive the -impudence of these people: five Boers, within a mile of eight thousand -British and a powerful Cavalry force, fire on a foraging party! Luckily -no harm done; Cavalry gallop out angrily; Boers vanish among remoter -kopjes. 'But,' said the General, 'what about my convoys?' - -So it was arranged that Smith-Dorrien should be left where he was -(twelve miles west of Lindley) with his own brigade, one battery, and a -corps of Mounted Infantry to help in the expected convoy, and should cut -off the corner and rejoin the column at the end of its first march -towards Heilbron. Ian Hamilton with the rest of the troops then moved on -to Lindley. The march lay through the same class of country hitherto -traversed--a pleasant grassy upland which, if not abundantly supplied -with water by nature, promised a rich reward to man, should he take the -trouble to construct even the simplest irrigation works. Spruits ran in -all directions, and only required an ordinary dam, like the bunds the -peasants build in India, to jewel each valley with a gleaming vivifying -lake. The husbanding of water would repair the scarcity of wood, and -the tenth year might see the naked grass clothed and adorned with -foliage. But at present the country-side is so sparsely populated that -the energies of its inhabitants could not produce much effect upon the -landscape. The unamiable characteristic of the Boer, to shun the sight -of his neighbour's barn, has scattered the farms so widely that little -patches of tillage are only here and there to be seen, and the -intervening miles lie neglected, often not more than twenty acres of a -six thousand acre property being brought into cultivation, which seems -rather a pity. - -The fair face of the land under its smiling sky was not unmarked by the -footprints of war. In the dry weather the careless habits of the -soldiers were the constant cause of grass fires. The half-burnt match, -tossed idly aside after a pipe was lighted, or an unguarded spark from a -cooking fire, kindled at once an extensive conflagration. The strong -winds drove the devouring blaze swiftly forward across the veldt, -clouding the landscape by day with dense fumes of smoke and scarring the -scene by night with vivid streaks of flame. So frequent were these grass -fires that they became a serious nuisance, wasting in an hour many acres -of grazing, proclaiming the movement and marking the track of the army, -stifling the marching columns with pungent odours, destroying the field -telegraph, and only extinguished by the heavy dews of the early morning. -But in spite of repeated injunctions in the daily orders, the -accidents--for which, indeed, there was every excuse--continued, and the -plains of brownish grass were everywhere disfigured with ugly patches of -black ashes which, as the fires burnt outwards, would spread and spread, -like stains of blood soaking through khaki. - -At length the track, which had been winding among the smooth -undulations, rounded an unusually steep hillock of kopje character, and -we saw before us at the distance of a mile the pretty little town of -Lindley. The Cavalry bivouacs covered the nearer slopes of the high hill -to the northward. The houses--white walls and blue-grey roofs of -iron--were tucked away at the bottom of a regular cup, and partly hidden -by the dark green Australian trees. We rode first of all to Broadwood's -headquarters, following the ground wire which led thither. Arrived -there we learned the news. Boer laagers and Boer patrols had been found -scattered about the country to the south-east and north-east. There was -occasional firing along the picket line. The town had upon most -searching requisition yielded nearly two days' supply, and, most -important of all, Piet De Wet, brother of the famous Christian, had sent -in a message offering to surrender with such of his men as would follow -his example, if he were permitted to return to his farm. Broadwood had -at once given the required assurance, and Hamilton on his arrival had -wired to Lord Roberts fully endorsing the views of his subordinate, and -requesting that the agreement might be confirmed. The answer came back -with the utmost despatch, and was to the effect that surrender must be -unconditional. De Wet, it was remarked, was excluded from the -favourable terms of the Proclamation to the Burghers of the Orange Free -State, by the fact that he had commanded part of the Republican forces. -He could not therefore be permitted to return to his farm. I need not -say with what astonishment this decision was received. The messenger -carrying the favourable answer was luckily overtaken before he had -passed through our picket line and the official letter was substituted. -Piet De Wet, who awaited the reply at a farm-house some ten miles from -Lindley, found himself presented with the alternative of continuing the -war or going to St. Helena, or perhaps Ceylon; and as events have shown -he preferred the former course to our loss in life, honour, and money. - -In the afternoon I rode into Lindley to buy various stores in which my -waggon was deficient. It is a typical South African town, with a large -central market square and four or five broad unpaved streets radiating -therefrom. There is a small clean-looking hotel, a substantial gaol, a -church and a schoolhouse. But the two largest buildings are the general -stores. These places are the depots whence the farmers for many miles -around draw all their necessaries and comforts. Owned and kept by -Englishmen or Scotchmen, they are built on the most approved style. -Each is divided into five or six large well-stocked departments. The -variety of their goods is remarkable. You may buy a piano, a kitchen -range, a slouch hat, a bottle of hair wash, or a box of sardines over -the same counter. The two stores are the rival Whiteley's of the -country-side; and the diverse tastes to which they cater prove at once -the number of their customers, and the wealth which even the indolent -Boer may win easily from his fertile soil. - -Personally I sought potatoes, and after patient inquiry I was directed -to a man who had by general repute twelve sacks. He was an Englishman, -and delighted to see the British bayonets at last. 'You can't think,' -he said, 'how we have looked forward to this day.' - -I asked him whether the Dutch had ill-used him during the war. - -'No, not really ill-used us; but when we refused to go out and fight -they began commandeering our property, horses and carts at first and -latterly food and clothing. Besides, it has been dreadful to have to -listen to all their lies and, of course, we had to keep our tongues -between our teeth.' - -It was evident that he hated the Boers among whom his lot had been cast -with great earnestness. This instinctive dislike which the British -settler so often displays for his Dutch neighbour is a perplexing and -not a very hopeful feature of the South African problem. Presently we -reached his house (where the potatoes were stored). Above the doorway -hung a Union Jack. I said-- - -'I advise you to take that down.' - -'Why?' he asked, full of astonishment. - -'The British are going to keep the country, aren't they?' - -'This column is not going to stay here for ever.' - -'But,' with an anxious look, 'surely they will leave some soldiers -behind to protect us, to hold the town.' - -I told him I thought it unlikely. Ours was a fighting column. Other -troops would come up presently for garrison duty. But there would -probably be an interval of at least a week. Little did I foresee the -rough fighting which would rage round Lindley for the next three months. -He looked very much disconcerted; not altogether without reason. - -'It's very hard on us,' he said after a pause. 'What will happen when -the Boers come back? They're just over the hill now.' - -'That's why I should take the flag down if I were you. If you don't -fight, keep your politics till the war is over!' He looked very -disappointed, and I think was asking himself how much his enthusiasm had -compromised him. After we had settled the potato question to his -satisfaction and I had sent the sack away upon my pack pony, he perked -up. 'Come and see my garden,' he said, and nothing loth I went. It was -not above a hundred yards square, but its contents proclaimed his energy -and the possibilities of the soil. He explained how he had dammed a -marshy sluit in the side of the hills to the eastward. 'Plenty of water -at all seasons: this pipe you see, only a question of piping: as much -water as ever I want: twenty gardens: grow anything you like, potatoes -mostly, cabbages (they were beauties), tomatoes and onions, a vine of -sweet white grapes, a bed of strawberries over there--anything: it only -wants water, and there's plenty of that if you take the trouble to get -it.' - -The signs of industry impressed me. 'How long,' I asked, 'have you been -here?' - -'Eight years last February,' he replied; 'see those trees?' - -He pointed to a long row of leafy trees about twenty feet high, which -gave a cool shade and whose green colour pleased the eye after looking -at so much brown grass. I nodded. - -'I planted those myself when I came: they grow quickly, don't they? -Only a question of water, and that is only a question of work.' - -Then I left him and returned to the camp with my potatoes and some -information thrown in. - -The next morning before breakfast-time there was firing in the picket -line south of Lindley. The patter of shots sounded across the valley, -and upon the opposite slopes the British patrols could be seen galloping -about like agitated ants. I was at the moment with General Hamilton. -He watched the distant skirmish from his tent door for a little while in -silence. Then he said: - -'The scouts and the Kaffirs report laagers of the enemy over there, and -over there, and over there' (he pointed to the different quarters). -'Now either I must attack them to-day or they will attack me to-morrow. -If I attack them to-day, I weary my troops; and if I don't we shall have -to fight an awkward rear-guard action to get out of this place -to-morrow.' - -He did not say at the time which course he meant to follow, but I felt -quite sure he would not take his troops back very far to the south or -south-east to chastise impalpable laagers. We were running on schedule -time and had to make our connections with the main army, to securing -whose smooth and undisturbed march all our efforts must be directed. So -I was not surprised when the day passed without any movement on our -part. - -Very early on the 20th the brigades were astir, and as soon as the light -was strong Broadwood's Cavalry began to stream away over the northern -ridges. The guns and the greater part of the Infantry followed them -without delay, so that by seven o'clock the great column of transport -was winding round the corner of Lindley Hill on the road to Heilbron. -The fact that parties of the enemy had been observed on all sides except -the west, made the operation of disentangling the force from Lindley -difficult and dangerous. Broadwood's duty was to clear the way in front. -Legge's corps of Mounted Infantry guarded the right flank: and Ian -Hamilton himself watched the movement of the rear guard, which consisted -of the Derbyshire Regiment, Bainbridge's corps of Mounted Infantry and, -as a special precaution, the 82nd Field Battery. - -The full light of day had no sooner revealed the march of the troops -than the watching Boers began to feel and press the picket line: and an -intermittent musketry spread gradually along the whole three quarter -circle round Lindley. At eight o'clock our troops evacuated the town -itself, at nine, the convoy being nearly round Lindley Hill, the pickets -commenced to draw in. This was a signal for decided increase in the -firing. No sooner were the outposts clear of the town than the Boers in -twos and threes galloped into it and began to fire from the houses. All -kinds of worthy old gentlemen, moreover, who had received us civilly -enough the day before, produced rifles from various hiding-places and -shot at us from off their verandahs. Indeed, so quickly did the town -revert to the enemy's hands that Somers Somerset, the despatch rider of -the 'Times,' was within an ace of being caught. He had arrived late the -night before, and having found a comfortable bed at the hotel went to -sleep without asking questions. The next thing he remembers is the -landlord rushing into his room and crying in great excitement that the -Boers were in the town. He scrambled into his clothes and, jumping on -his horse galloped through the streets and was not fired at till he was -more than a quarter of a mile away. History does not record whether -among such disturbing events he retained his presence of mind -sufficiently to settle his hotel bill. - -The General and his staff had watched the beginnings of the action from -the now deserted camping ground, a dirty waste, littered with rubbish -and dotted with the melancholy figures of derelict horses and mules. So -soon as the retiring pickets drew north of the town, he mounted and made -his way to the top of Lindley Hill. From this commanding table-top the -whole scene of action, indeed the whole surrounding country, was -visible. At our feet beyond the abandoned bivouac lay the houses of -Lindley giving forth a regular rattle of musketry. On either side, east -and west, rose two prominent kopjes held by companies of Mounted -Infantry briskly engaged. The tail of the transport serpent was -twisting away into safety round the base of our hill. Far away on the -broad expanse of down parties of Dutch horsemen cantered swiftly -forward; and along a road beyond the eastern kopje rose a steady trickle -of mounted men. They moved in true Boer fashion--little independent -groups of four and five, now and then a troop of ten or a dozen, here -and there a solitary horseman riding back against the general flow. At -no particular moment were more than thirty to be seen on the mile of -dusty road. Yet to an experienced eye the movement seemed full of -dangerous significance. One became conscious of a growing accumulation -of force somewhere among the hills to the eastward. The General, who had -served on the Indian frontier, understood rear-guard actions, and his -face was grave, as I had not seen it when larger operations were toward; -and at this moment the boom of a heavy gun told us that the advanced -troops were also engaged. The Boers knew what they wanted. There was an -air of decision about their movements which boded no good to rear or -right flank guard. Gallopers were sent off, one to warn the right corps -of Mounted Infantry, another to bid the main body of the force go dead -slow, another to the threatened eastern kopje to learn the state of -affairs there. The rear-guard battery was brought up on to the -table-top, and came into action. This was, I think, the key of the -situation. The battery planted on Lindley Hill, and casting its shells -now in one direction, now in another, compelled the assailants to keep -their distance, and helped the pickets into safety and new positions -further back. It called to mind some famous knight of history or -romance holding an angry rabble back beyond the sweep of his long sword, -while his comrades made good their retreat. Under this good protection -the pickets, having dutifully held their positions until the convoy was -well on its road, scampered in, and the battery itself began to think -about retiring. But the trickle of Boers along the eastern roadway had -not stopped. Seven or eight hundred men must have passed already; and -those that now came galloped as if they had some very tangible -objective. 'Look out, the right flank!' - -But now, the rear guard having disengaged itself from Lindley town, the -General's place was with his main body, and we set off to trot and -gallop the seven miles that intervened between the head and tail of our -force. The firing in front had ceased before we came up. Indeed, the -affair had not been of any importance. About seven hundred Boers with -three or four guns had obstructed the advance near the Rhenoster River; -had even checked the Cavalry screen; Tenth Hussars had two officers -wounded; a dozen other casualties in the Brigade; Infantry and guns -wanted to clear the way. A Cavalry brigade is not a kopje-smashing -machine. 'Never mind, here come the cow-guns. Now we shall see.' -Indeed, as soon as the head of the 21st Brigade began to deploy, the -five-inch guns and a field battery opened on the enemy, who thereupon -fled incontinently across the river, pursued by the fire of the guns and -of the Cavalry 'pom-poms.' - -We were just congratulating ourselves upon the success of these curious -operations--curious because the drill books do not contemplate both -sides fighting rear-guard actions at the same time--when half a dozen -riderless horses galloped in from somewhere miles away on the right -flank. Evidently sharp fighting was proceeding there; the flow of Boers -had meant mischief. The peaceful landscape told no tale. No sound of -musketry, nor sign of action could be distinguished. Indeed, in this -scattered warfare one part of a force may easily be destroyed without -the rest even knowing that a shot has been fired. 'Why scatter them?' -asks the armchair strategist. 'Because if you don't scatter, and -haven't got soldiers who are good enough to act when scattered, you will -all get destroyed in a lump together.' - -The General sent directions to the rear guard to communicate with the -flank guard; kept another corps of Mounted Infantry handy to support -either if necessary, and turned his attention to getting his brigades -across the Rhenoster River. While this was proceeding the head of -Smith-Dorrien's column, which had marched prosperously from their -bivouac near Kaalfontein, came into view, and the Army of the Right -Flank stood again united, a fact which suggests some consideration of -its functions in the general scheme of Lord Roberts's advance. - -After Kroonstadt had been captured the republican forces on the railway -retreated to the line of the Rhenoster. Half a mile to the north of -this river there rises abruptly from the smooth plain a long line of -rocky hills, and in this strong position the Boers had determined to -make a stubborn stand. Any force advancing along the railway would -indeed have found it a difficult and costly business to cross the river -and dislodge an enemy so posted. Other low hills trending away to -either flank would have made any turning movement an exceedingly -extended and probably a useless operation, for the enemy being on the -inside of the circle would have been able to confront the attack -wherever it might fall. But the Rhenoster River, as the reader will see -by a glance at the map, rises considerably south of the point where it -intersects the railway; and so soon as Ian Hamilton's force was across -it, the Boers holding the kopjes position were in considerable danger of -being cut off. The effect of our crossing the Rhenoster between Lindley -and Heilbron should therefore be to clear the march of the main army. -All fell out as Lord Roberts had expected; although the Boers had made -great preparations to defend Rhenoster, had constructed strong -entrenchments and made sidings to detrain their heavy guns, they -evacuated the whole position without a shot being fired, compelled by -the movement of a column forty miles away to their left flank. - -All who understood the scope and cohesion of the operations were -delighted at the prospect of getting across the Rhenoster River. The -General was determined, rear and flank guard actions notwithstanding, to -have his army and transport over that night: and two practicable -crossings having been found, Infantry, Cavalry, guns and baggage began -to push across. The last was now increased by the arrival of -Smith-Dorrien, who brought with him a much needed convoy with sufficient -supplies to carry us on to Heilbron and a march beyond. It was midnight -before all the waggons were across; but though this cruel day of march -and sun tore the hearts out of the transport animals, and the flocks of -sheep were so weary they could scarcely be driven along, we knew that -the exertions had not been made in vain. - -Late in the evening came the news from the right flank guard. They had -waited, fearing to expose the rear guard to a flank attack. The rear -guard had made good its retreat. A gap had sprung up between the two -bodies. The vigilant Boers had pounced in and stampeded the horses of -one Mounted Infantry company. A sharp, fierce fight followed; rear -guard hearing the fusillade swung in to help. Ultimately the Boers were -checked sufficiently to enable rear and flank guards to cut inwards -together and draw off: but it was by general agreement of participants a -very unpleasant affair. The officer commanding the company whose horses -were stampeded had particularly interesting experiences. The Boers -galloped right in among his men, and a confused scrimmage followed: -officer was running towards stampeded horses; on the way he passed a -burgher; 'Surrender,' cried the Dutchman. 'No,' retorted the officer--an -Irishman--(with suitable emphasis) and ran on, whereupon burgher -dismounted and began shooting; had four shots and missed every one. -Meanwhile officer reached shelter of a convenient rock, turned in just -indignation, fitted his Mauser pistol together and fired back. The -burgher, finding his enemy behind cover, and himself in the open--by no -means the situation for a patriot--jumped on his horse, and would have -galloped away but that the officer managed to hit him in the leg with -his pistol, and so he dropped, according to the account of an -eye-witness, 'like a shot rook.' - -The local advantage, however, rested with the Boers, who hit or captured -the greater part of the squadron, including twenty wounded. Concerning -these latter, Piet De Wet sent in a flag of truce during the night -offering to hand them over if ambulances were sent, and several wounded -Boers whom we had taken were given up. This was accordingly done. Our -total losses during the 20th were about sixty, some of whom were -officers. The Boers admitted a loss of twenty killed and wounded, and -it may easily have been more. The army bivouacked on the north bank of -the Rhenoster within two marches of the town of Heilbron, upon which it -was now designed to move. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - CONCERNING A BOER CONVOY - - - Heilbron: May 22. - - -Heilbron lies in a deep valley. About it on every side rolls the grassy -upland country of the Free State, one smooth grey-green surge beyond -another, like the after-swell of a great gale at sea; and here in the -trough of the waves, hidden almost entirely from view, is the town -itself, white stone houses amid dark trees, all clustering at the foot -of a tall church spire. It is a quiet, sleepy little place, with a few -good buildings and pretty rose gardens, half-a-dozen large stores, a -hotel, and a branch line of its own. - -For a few days it had been capital of the Free State. The President, -his secretaries, and his councillors arrived one morning from Lindley, -bringing the 'seat of government' with them in a Cape cart. For nearly -a week Heilbron remained the chief town. Then, as suddenly as it had -come, the will-o'-the-wisp dignity departed, and Steyn, secretaries, -councillors, and Cape cart, hurried away to the eastward, leaving behind -them rumours of advancing hosts--and (to this I can testify) three -bottles of excellent champagne. That was on Sunday night. The -inhabitants watched and wondered all the next day. - -On the Tuesday morning, shortly after the sun had risen, Christian De -Wet appeared with sixty waggons, five guns, and a thousand burghers, -very weary, having trekked all night from the direction of Kroonstadt, -and glad to find a place of rest and refreshment. 'What of the -English?' inquired the new-comers, and the Heilbron folk replied that -the English were coming, and so was Christmas, and that the country to -the southward was all clear for ten miles. Thereat the war-worn commando -outspanned their oxen and settled themselves to coffee. Forty minutes -later the leading patrols of Broadwood's Brigade began to appear on the -hills to the south of the town. - -Looked at from any point of view, the British force was a formidable -array: Household Cavalry, 12th Lancers and 10th Hussars, with P and Q -Batteries Royal Horse Artillery (you must mind your P's and Q's with -them), two 'pom-poms,' and two galloping Maxims; and, hurrying up behind -them, Light Horse, Mounted Infantry, Nineteenth and Twenty-first -Brigades, thirty field-guns, more 'pom-poms,' two great 5-in. ox-drawn -siege pieces ('cow guns' as the army calls them), and Ian Hamilton. It -was an army formidable to any foe; but to those who now stared upwards -from the little town and saw the dark, swift-moving masses on the -hills--an avalanche of armed men and destructive engines about to fall -on them--terrible beyond words. - -'And then,' as the poet observes, 'there was mounting in hot haste,' -saddling up of weary ponies, frantic inspanning of hungry oxen cheated -of their well-earned rest and feed, cracking of long whips, kicking of -frightened Kaffirs; and so pell-mell out of the town and away to the -northward hurried the commando of Christian De Wet. - -The Cavalry halted on the hills for a while, the General being desirous -of obtaining the formal surrender of Heilbron, and so preventing -street-fighting or bombardment. An officer--Lieutenant M. Spender-Clay, -of the 2nd Life Guards--was despatched with a flag of truce and a -trumpeter; message most urgent, answer to be given within twenty -minutes, or Heaven knows what would happen; but all these things take -time. Flags of truce (prescribe the customs of war) must approach the -enemy's picket line at a walk; a mile and a half at a walk--twenty -minutes; add twenty for the answer, ten for the return journey, and -nearly an hour is gone. So we wait impatiently watching the two -solitary figures with a white speck above them draw nearer and nearer to -the Boer lines; 'and,' says the brigadier, 'bring two guns up and have -the ranges taken.' - -There was just a chance that while all were thus intent on the town, the -convoy and commando might have escaped unharmed, for it happened that -the northern road runs for some distance eastward along the bottom of -the valley, concealed from view. But the clouds of dust betrayed them. - -'Hullo! what the deuce is that?' cried an officer. - -'What?' said everyone else. - -'Why, that! Look at the dust. There they go. It's a Boer convoy. -Gone away.' - -And with this holloa the chase began. Never have I seen anything in war -so like a fox hunt. At first the scent was uncertain, and the pace was -slow with many checks. - -Before us rose a long smooth slope of grass, and along the crest the -figures of horsemen could be plainly seen. The tail of the waggon train -was just disappearing. But who should say how many rifles lined that -ridge? Besides, there were several barbed-wire fences, which, as anyone -knows, will spoil the best country. - -Broadwood began giving all kinds of orders--Household Cavalry to advance -slowly in the centre; 12th Lancers to slip forward on the right, -skirting the town, and try to look behind the ridge, and with them a -battery of horse guns; 10th Hussars, to make a cast to the left, and the -rest of the guns to walk forward steadily. - -Slowly at first, and silently besides; but soon the hounds gave tongue. -Pop, pop, pop--the advanced squadron--Blues--had found something to fire -at, and something that fired back, too; pip-pop, pip-pop came the double -reports of the Boer rifles. Bang--the artillery opened on the crest-line -with shrapnel, and at the first few shells it was evident that the enemy -would not abide the attack. The horsemen vanished over the sky-line. - -The leading squadron pushed cautiously forward--every movement at a -walk, so far. Infantry brigadiers and others, inclined to impatience, -ground their teeth, and thinking there would be no sport that day, went -home criticising the master. The leading squadron reached the crest, -and we could see them dismount and begin to fire. - -We were over the first big fence, and now the scent improved. Beyond -the first ridge was another, and behind this, much nearer now, dust -clouds high and thick. The General galloped forward himself to the -newly-captured position and took a comprehensive view. 'Tell the -brigade to come here at once--sharp.' - -A galloper shot away to the rear. Behind arose the rattle of trotting -batteries. The excitement grew. Already the patrols were skirting the -second ridge. The Boer musketry, fitful for a few minutes, died away. -They were abandoning their second position. 'Forward, then.' And -forward we went accordingly at a healthy trot. - -In front of the jingling squadrons two little galloping Maxims darted -out, and almost before the ridge was ours they were spluttering angrily -at the retreating enemy, so that four burghers, as I saw myself, -departed amid a perfect hail of bullets, which peppered the ground on -all sides. - -But now the whole hunt swung northward towards a line of rather -ugly-looking heights. Broadwood looked at them sourly. 'Four guns to -watch those hills, in case they bring artillery against us from them.' -Scarcely were the words spoken, when there was a flash and a brown blurr -on the side of one of the hills, and with a rasping snarl a shell passed -overhead and burst among the advancing Cavalry. The four guns were on -the target without a moment's delay. - -The Boer artillerists managed to fire five shots, and then the place -grew too hot for them--indeed, after Natal, I may write, even for them. -They had to expose themselves a great deal to remove their gun, and the -limber and its six horses showed very plainly on the hillside, so that -we all hoped to smash a wheel or kill a horse, and thus capture a real -prize. But at the critical moment our 'pom-poms' disgraced themselves. -They knew the range, they saw the target. They fired four shots; the -aim was not bad. But four shots--four miserable shots! Just pom-pom, -pom-pom. That was all. Whereas, if the Boers had had such a chance, -they would have rattled through the whole belt, and sent eighteen or -twenty shells in a regular shower. So we all saw with pain how a -weapon, which is so terrible in the hands of the enemy, may become -feeble and ineffective when used on our side by our own gunners. - -After the menace of the Boer artillery was removed from our right flank, -the advance became still more rapid. Batteries and squadrons were urged -into a gallop. Broadwood himself hurried forward. We topped a final -rise. - -Then at last we viewed the vermin. There, crawling up the opposite -slope, clear cut on a white roadway, was a long line of waggons--ox -waggons and mule waggons--and behind everything a small cart drawn by -two horses. All were struggling with frantic energy to escape from -their pursuers. But in vain. - -The batteries spun round and unlimbered. Eager gunners ran forward with -ammunition, and some with belts for the 'pom-poms.' There was a -momentary pause while ranges were taken and sights aligned, and -then----! Shell after shell crashed among the convoys. Some exploded -on the ground, others, bursting in the air, whipped up the dust all -round mules and men. The 'pom-poms,' roused at last from their apathy -by this delicious target and some pointed observations of the General, -thudded out strings of little bombs. For a few minutes the waggons -persevered manfully. Then one by one they came to a standstill. The -drivers fled to the nearest shelter, and the animals strayed off the -road or stood quiet in stolid ignorance of their danger. - -And now at this culminating moment I must, with all apologies to -'Brooksby,' change the metaphor, because the end of the chase was -scarcely like a fox hunt. The guns had killed the quarry, and the -Cavalry dashed forward to secure it. It was a fine bag--to wit, fifteen -laden waggons and seventeen prisoners. Such was the affair of Heilbron, -and it was none the less joyous and exciting because, so far as we could -learn, no man on either side was killed, and only one trooper and five -horses wounded. Then we turned homewards. - -On the way back to the town I found, near a fine farmhouse with deep -verandahs and a pretty garden, Boer ambulance waggons, two German -doctors, and a dozen bearded men. They inquired the issue of the -pursuit; how many prisoners had we taken? We replied by other -questions. 'How much longer will the war last?' - -'It is not a war any more,' said one of the Red Cross men. 'The poor -devils haven't got a chance against your numbers.' - -'Nevertheless,' interposed another, 'they will fight to the end.' - -I looked towards the last speaker. He was evidently of a different -class to the rest. - -'Are you,' I asked, 'connected with the ambulance?' - -'No, I am the military chaplain to the Dutch forces.' - -'And you think the Free State will continue to resist?' - -'We will go down fighting. What else is there to do? History and -Europe will do us justice.' - -'It is easy for you to say that, who do not fight; but what of the poor -farmers and peasants you have dragged into this war? They do not tell us -that they wish to fight. They think they have been made a catspaw for -the Transvaal.' - -'Ah,' he rejoined, warmly, 'they have no business to say that now. They -did not say so before the war. They wanted to fight. It was a solemn -pledge. We were bound to help the Transvaalers; what would have -happened to us after they were conquered?' - -'But, surely you, and men like you, knew the strength of the antagonist -you challenged. Why did you urge these simple people to their ruin?' - -'We had had enough of English methods here. We knew our independence -was threatened. It had to come. We did not deceive them. We told -them. I told my flock often that it would not be child's play.' - -'Didn't you tell them it was hopeless?' - -'It was not hopeless,' he said. 'There were many chances.' - -'All gone now.' - -'Not quite all. Besides, chances or no chances, we must go down -fighting.' - -'You preach a strange gospel of peace!' - -'And you English,' he rejoined, 'have strange ideas of liberty.' - -So we parted, without more words; and I rode on my way into the town. -Heilbron had one memory for me, and it was one which was now to be -revived. In the hotel--a regular country inn--I found various British -subjects who had been assisting the Boer ambulances--possibly with -rifles. It is not my purpose to discuss here the propriety of their -conduct. They had been placed in situations which do not come to men in -quiet times, and for the rest they were mean-spirited creatures. - -While the Republican cause seemed triumphant they had worked for the -Dutch, had doubtless spoken of 'damned rooineks,' and used other similar -phrases; so soon as the Imperial arms predominated they had changed -their note; had refused to go on commando in any capacity, proclaimed -that Britons never should be slaves, and dared the crumbling organism of -Federal government to do its worst. - -We talked about the fighting in Natal which they had seen from the other -side. The Acton Homes affair cropped up. You will remember that we of -the irregular brigade plumed ourselves immensely on this ambuscading of -the Boers--the one undoubted score we ever made against them on the -Tugela. - -'Yes,' purred my renegades, 'you caught the damned Dutchmen fairly then. -We were delighted, but of course we dared not show it.' (Pause.) 'That -was where De Mentz was killed.' - -De Mentz! The name recalled a vivid scene--the old field-cornet lying -forward, grey and grim, in a pool of blood and a litter of empty -cartridge cases, with his wife's letter clasped firmly in his stiffening -fingers. He had 'gone down fighting;' had had no doubts what course to -steer. I knew when I saw his face that he had thought the whole thing -out. Now they told me that there had been no man in all Heilbron more -bitterly intent on the war, and that his letter in the 'Volksstem,' -calling on the Afrikanders to drive the English scum from the land, had -produced a deep impression. - -'Let them,' thus it ran, 'bring 50,000 men, or 80,000 men, or even'--it -was a wild possibility--'100,000, yet we will overcome them.' But they -brought more than 200,000, so all his calculations were disproved, and -he himself was killed with the responsibility on his shoulders of -leading his men into an ambush which, with ordinary precautions, might -have been avoided. Such are war's revenges. His widow, a very poor -woman, lived next door to the hotel, nursing her son who had been shot -through the lungs during the same action. Let us hope he will recover, -for he had a gallant sire. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - ACTION OF JOHANNESBURG - - - Johannesburg: June 1. - - -On the 24th of May, Ian Hamilton's force, marching west from Heilbron, -struck the railway and joined Lord Roberts's main column. The long -marches, unbroken by a day's rest, the short rations to which the troops -had been restricted, and the increasing exhaustion of horses and -transport animals seemed to demand a halt. But a more imperious voice -cried 'Forward!' and at daylight the travel-stained brigades set forth, -boots worn to tatters, gun horses dying at the wheel, and convoys -struggling after in vain pursuit--'Forward to the Vaal.' - -And now the Army of the Right Flank became the Army of the Left; for -Hamilton was directed to move across the railway line and march on the -drift of the river near Boschbank. Thus, for the first time it was -possible to see the greater part of the invading force at once. - -French, indeed, was already at Parys, but the Seventh and Eleventh -Divisions, the Lancer brigade, the corps troops, the heavy artillery, -and Hamilton's four brigades were all spread about the spacious plain, -and made a strange picture; long brown columns of Infantry, black -squares of batteries, sprays of Cavalry flung out far to the front and -flanks, 30,000 fighting men together, behind them interminable streams -of waggons, and, in their midst, like the pillar of cloud that led the -hosts of Israel, the war balloon, full blown, on its travelling car. - -We crossed the Vaal on the 26th prosperously and peacefully. Broadwood, -with his Cavalry, had secured the passage during the previous night, and -the Infantry arriving found the opposite slopes in British hands. -Moreover, the Engineers, under the indefatigable Boileau, assisted by -the strong arms of the Blues and Life Guards, had cut a fine broad road -up and down the steep river banks. - -Once across we looked again for the halt. Twenty-four hours' rest meant -convoys with full rations and forage for the horses. But in the morning -there came a swift messenger from the Field-Marshal: main army crossing -at Vereeniging, demoralisation of the enemy increasing, only one span of -the railway bridge blown up, perhaps Johannesburg within three days--at -any rate, 'try,' never mind the strain of nerve and muscle or the -scarcity of food. - -Forward again. That day Hamilton marched his men eighteen miles--('ten -miles,' say the text-books on war, 'is a good march for a division with -baggage,' and our force, carrying its own supplies, had ten times the -baggage of a European division!)--and succeeded besides in dragging his -weary transport with him. By good fortune the Cavalry discovered a -little forage--small stacks of curious fluffy grass called manna, and -certainly heaven-sent--on which the horses subsisted and did not -actually starve. All day the soldiers pressed on, and the sun was low -before the bivouac was reached. Nothing untoward disturbed the march, -and only a splutter of musketry along the western flank guard relieved -its dulness. - -At first, after we had crossed the Vaal, the surface of the country was -smooth and grassy, like the Orange River Colony, but as the column -advanced northwards the ground became broken--at once more dangerous and -more picturesque. Dim blue hills rose up on the horizon, the rolling -swells of pasture grew sharper and less even, patches of wood or scrub -interrupted the level lines of the plain, and polished rocks of -conglomerate or auriferous quartz showed through the grass, like the -bones beneath the skin of the cavalry horses. We were approaching the -Rand. - -On the evening of the 27th, Hamilton's advance guard came in touch with -French, who, with one Mounted Infantry and two Cavalry brigades, was -moving echeloned forward on our left in the same relation to us as were -we to the main army. - -The information about the enemy was that, encouraged by the defensive -promise of the ground, he was holding a strong position either on the -Klip Riviersburg, or along the line of the gold mines crowning the main -Rand reef. On the 28th, in expectation of an action next day, Hamilton -made but a short march. French, on the other hand, pushed on to -reconnoitre, and if possible--for the Cavalry were very ambitious--to -pierce the lines that lay ahead. - -I rode with General Broadwood, whose brigade covered the advance of -Hamilton's column. The troops had now entered a region of hills which -on every side threatened the march and limited the view. - -At nine o'clock we reached a regular pass between two steep rocky -ridges. From the summit of one of these ridges a wide landscape was -revealed. Northwards across our path lay the black line of the Klip -Riviersburg, stretching to the east as far as I could sec, and -presenting everywhere formidable positions to the advancing force. To -the west these frowning features fell away in more grassy slopes, from -among which, its approach obstructed by several rugged underfeatures, -rose the long smooth ridge of the Witwatersrand reef. The numerous -grass fires which attend the march of an army in dry weather--the -results of our carelessness, or, perhaps, of the enemy's design--veiled -the whole prospect with smoke, and made the air glitter and deceive like -the mirages in the Soudan. But one thing showed with sufficient -distinctness to attract and astonish all eyes. The whole crest of the -Rand ridge was fringed with factory chimneys. We had marched nearly 500 -miles through a country which, though full of promise, seemed to -European eyes desolate and wild, and now we turned a corner suddenly, -and there before us sprang the evidences of wealth, manufacture, and -bustling civilisation. I might have been looking from a distance at -Oldham. - -The impression was destroyed by the booming of shotted guns, unheard, by -God's grace, these many years in peaceful Lancashire. French was at -work. The haze and the distance prevented us from watching closely the -operations of the Cavalry. The dark patches of British horsemen and the -white smoke of the Dutch artillery were the beginning and the end of our -observations. But, even so, it was easy to see that French was not -making much progress. - -As the afternoon wore on the loud reverberations of heavy cannon told -that the Boers had disclosed their real position, and we knew that -something more substantial than Cavalry would be required to drive them -from it. In the evening French's brigades were seen to be retiring -across the Klip River, and the night closed in amid the rapid drumming -of the Vickers-Maxims covering his movement, bringing with it the -certainty of an Infantry action on the morrow. - -At twelve o'clock a despatch from the Cavalry division reached Hamilton. -French's messenger said that the cavalry were having a hot fight and -were confronted by several 40-pounder guns, but the stout-hearted -commander himself merely acquainted Hamilton with his orders from -headquarters, to march via Florida to Driefontein, and made no allusion -to his fortunes nor asked for assistance. Indeed, as we found out -later, his operations on the 28th had been practically confined to an -artillery duel, in which, though the expenditure of ammunition was very -great and the noise alarming, the casualties--one officer and eight -men--were fortunately small. - -But the Boers, seeing the Cavalry retire at dusk, claimed that they had -repulsed the first attack; their confidence in the strength of the Rand -position was increased; their resistance on the next day was -consequently more stubborn; and the 'Standard and Diggers' News' was -enabled to terminate a long career of exaggeration and falsehood by -describing one more 'bloody British defeat with appalling slaughter.' - -The event of the next day admitted of no such misinterpretation. - -The orders from headquarters for the 29th were such as to involve -certain fighting should the enemy stand. French, with the Cavalry -Division, was to march around Johannesburg to Driefontein; Ian Hamilton -was directed on Florida; the main army, under the Field-Marshal, would -occupy Germiston and seize the junctions of the Natal, Cape Colony, and -Potchefstroom lines. These movements, which the chief had indicated by -flags on the map, were now to be executed--so far as possible--by -soldiers on the actual field. - -The operations of the main army are not my concern in this letter; but -it is necessary to state the result, lest the reader fail to grasp the -general idea, and, while studying the detail, forget their scale and -meaning. - -Advancing with great speed and suddenness through Elandsfontein, Lord -Roberts surprised the Boers in Germiston, and after a brief skirmish -drove them in disorder from the town, which he then occupied. So -precipitate was the flight of the enemy, or so rapid the British -advance, that nine locomotives and much other rolling stock were -captured, and the line from Germiston southward to Vereeniging was found -to be undamaged. The importance of these advantages on the success of -the operations can scarcely be over-estimated. The problem of supply -was at once modified, and though the troops still suffered privations -from scarcity of food, the anxieties of their commanders as to the -immediate future were removed. - -French had camped for the night south of the Klip River, just out of -cannon shot of the enemy's position, and at eight o'clock on the morning -of the 29th he moved off westward, intending to try to penetrate, or, -better still, circumvent, the barrier that lay before him. - -Such ground as he had won on the previous day he held with Mounted -Infantry, and thus masking the enemy's front he attempted to pierce if -he could not turn his right. For these purposes the force at his -disposal--three horse batteries, four 'pom-poms,' and about 3,000 -mounted men--was inadequate and unsuited. But he knew that Ian -Hamilton, with siege guns, field guns, and two Infantry brigades, was -close behind him, and on this he reckoned. - -Firing began about seven o'clock, when the Boers attacked the Mounted -Infantry Corps holding the positions captured on the 28th, and who were -practically covering the flank movement of the rest of the Cavalry -Division and the march of Hamilton's column. The Mounted Infantry, who -were very weak, were gradually compelled to fall back, being at one time -enfiladed by two Vickers-Maxims and heavily pressed in front. - -But their resistance was sufficiently prolonged to secure the -transference of force from right to left. By ten o'clock French had -gone far enough west to please him, and passing round the edge of a deep -swamp turned the heads of his regiments sharply to their right (north), -and moved towards the Rand ridge and its under features. - -By the vigorous use of his Horse Artillery he cleared several of the -advanced kopjes, and had made nearly two miles progress north of the -drainage line of the Klip River, when he was abruptly checked. A -squadron sent forward against a low fringe of rocks, clumping up at the -end of a long grass glacis, encountered a sudden burst of musketry fire, -and returned, pursued by shell, with the information that mounted men -could work no further northwards. - -Meanwhile Hamilton, who had determined to lay his line of march across -the Doornkop ridges (of inglorious memory), and whose Infantry, baggage, -and guns were spread all along the flat plain south of the Klip, was -drawing near. French halted his brigades and awaited him. The -instructions from headquarters defined very carefully the relations -which were to be observed between the two Generals. They were to -co-operate, yet their commands were entirely separate. Should they -attack the same hill at once, French, as a lieutenant-general and long -senior to Hamilton, would automatically assume command. But this -contingency was not likely to arise from the military situation, and the -good feeling and mutual confidence which existed between these two able -soldiers, and which had already produced golden results at Elandslaagte, -made the possibility of any misunderstanding still more remote. - -French was joined by Hamilton at one o'clock, and they discussed the -situation together. French explained the difficulty of further direct -advance. He must move still more to the west. On the other hand, -Hamilton, whose force was eating its last day's rations, could make no -longer _detour_, and must break through there and then--frontal attack, -if necessary. So all fitted in happily. The Cavalry division moved to -the left to co-operate with the Infantry attack by threatening the Boer -right, and, in order that this pressure might be effective, Hamilton -lent Broadwood's Brigade and two corps of Mounted Infantry to French for -the day. He himself prepared to attack what stood before him with his -whole remaining force. - -By two o'clock the Cavalry in brown swarms had disappeared to the -westward, both Infantry brigades were massed under cover on the -approaches of the Rand ridge, and the transport of the army lay -accumulated in a vast pool near the passage of the Klip--here only a -swamp, but further east a river. The artillery duel of the morning had -died away. The firing on the right, where the Mounted Infantry still -maintained themselves, was intermittent. The reconnaissance was over. -The action was about to begin, and in the interval there was a short, -quiet lull--the calm before the storm. The soldiers munched their -biscuits silently under the sun blaze. The officers and staff ate a -frugal luncheon. Ian Hamilton with his aide-de-camp, the Duke of -Marlborough, shared the contents of my wallets. I watched the General -closely. He knew better than the sanguine people who declared the Boers -had run away already. No one understood better than he what a terrible -foe is the rock-sheltered Mauser-armed Dutchman. In spite of its cavalry -turning movement, and other embellishments, the impending attack must be -practically frontal. Supply did not allow a wider circle: to stop was -to starve; and the position before us--half-a-dozen clusters of rock, -breaking from the smooth grass upward slopes, except in colour like foam -on the crest of waves, natural parapet and glacis combined, and, beyond -all, the long bare ridge of the Rand lined with who should say what -entrenchments or how many defenders--a prospect which filled all men who -knew with the most solemn thoughts. - -For my part, having seen the Infantry come reeling back in bloody ruin -two or three times from such a place and such a foe, though I risked no -repute on the event--scarcely my life--I confess to a beating heart. -But the man who bore all the responsibility, and to whom the result -meant everything, appeared utterly unmoved. Indeed, I could almost -imagine myself the General and the General the Press Correspondent, -though perhaps this arrangement would scarcely have worked so well. - -At three o'clock precisely the Infantry advanced to the attack. -Major-General Bruce-Hamilton directed the left attack with the -Twenty-first Brigade, and Colonel Spens the right with the Nineteenth -Brigade. The whole division was commanded by General Smith-Dorrien. -The lateness of the hour gave scarcely any time for the artillery -preparation, and the artillery came into action only a few minutes -before the infantry were exposed to fire. - -It must be noticed that the combination of the batteries and the support -which they afforded to the attack was scarcely so effective as might -have been expected from the number of guns available. But the General -commanding a mixed force is bound to trust the various specialists under -him, at least until experience has shown them to be deficient in energy -or ability. - -The Infantry advance was developed on the most modern principles. Each -brigade occupied a front of more than a mile and three quarters, and the -files of the first line of skirmishers were extended no less than thirty -paces. Bruce-Hamilton, with the left attack, started a little earlier -than the right brigade, and, with the City Imperial Volunteers in the -first line, soon had his whole command extended on the open grass. - -A few minutes after three, French's guns were heard on the extreme left, -and about the same time the firing on the right swelled up again, so -that by the half-hour the action was general along the whole front of -battle--an extent of a little over six miles. - -[Illustration: IAN HAMILTON'S ACTION BEFORE JOHANNESBURG] - -The left attack, pressed with vigour, and directed with skill by General -Bruce-Hamilton, led along a low spur, and was designed to be a kind of -inside turning movement to assist the right in conformity with the -Cavalry action now in full swing. The City Imperial Volunteers moved -forward with great dash and spirit, and in spite of a worrying fire from -their left rear, which increased in proportion as they moved inwards -towards the right, drove the Boers from position after position. While -there is no doubt that French's pressure beyond them materially assisted -their advance, the rapid progress of this Twenty-first Brigade entitled -them and their leader to the highest credit. The Cameron Highlanders -and the Sherwood Foresters supported the attack. The Boers resisted -well with artillery, and their shells caused several casualties among -the advancing lines; but it was on the right that the fighting was most -severe. - -The leading battalion of the Nineteenth Brigade chanced--for there was -no selection--to be the Gordon Highlanders; nor was it without a thrill -that I watched this famous regiment move against the enemy. Their -extension and advance were conducted with machine-like regularity. The -officers explained what was required to the men. They were to advance -rapidly until under rifle fire, and then to push on or not as they might -be instructed. - -With impassive unconcern the veterans of Chitral, Dargai, the Bara -Valley, Magersfontein, Paardeburg, and Houtnek walked leisurely forward, -and the only comment recorded was the observation of a private: 'Bill, -this looks like being a kopje day.' Gradually the whole battalion drew -out clear of the covering ridge, and long dotted lines of brown figures -filled the plain. At this moment two batteries and the two 5-in. guns -opened from the right of the line, and what with the artillery of French -and Bruce-Hamilton there was soon a loud cannonade. - -The Dutch replied at once with three or four guns, one of which seemed a -very heavy piece of ordnance on the main Rand ridge, and another fired -from the kopje against which the Gordons were marching. But the Boer -riflemen, crouching among the rocks, reserved their fire for a near -target. While the troops were thus approaching the enemy's position, -the two brigades began unconsciously to draw apart. Colonel Spens' -battalions had extended further to the right than either Ian Hamilton or -Smith-Dorrien had intended. Bruce-Hamilton, pressing forward on the -left, found himself more and more tempted to face the harassing attack -on his left rear. Both these tendencies had to be corrected. The -Gordons were deflected to their left by an officer, Captain Higginson, -who galloped most pluckily into the firing line in spite of a hail of -bullets. Bruce-Hamilton was ordered to bear in to his right and -disregard the growing pressure behind his left shoulder. Nevertheless a -wide gap remained. But by this mischance Ian Hamilton contrived to -profit. Smith-Dorrien had already directed the only remaining -battalion--the Sussex--to fill up the interval, and the General-in-Chief -now thrust a battery forward through the gap, almost flush with the -skirmish line of the Infantry on its left and right. - -The fire of these guns, combined with the increasing pressure from the -turning movements both of Bruce-Hamilton and French, who was now working -very far forward in the west, weakened the enemy's position on the kopje -which the Gordons were attacking. Yet, when every allowance has been -made for skilful direction and bold leading, the honours, equally with -the cost of the victory, belong more to the Gordon Highlanders than to -all the other troops put together. - -The rocks against which they advanced proved in the event to be the very -heart of the enemy's position. The grass in front of them was burnt and -burning, and against this dark background the khaki figures showed -distinctly. The Dutch held their fire until the attack was within 800 -yards, and then, louder than the cannonade, the ominous rattle of -concentrated rifle fire burst forth. The black slope was spotted as -thickly with grey puffs of dust where the bullets struck as with -advancing soldiers, and tiny figures falling by the way told of heavy -loss. But the advance neither checked nor quickened. - -With remorseless stride, undisturbed by peril or enthusiasm, the Gordons -swept steadily onward, changed direction half left to avoid, as far as -possible, an enfilade fire, changed again to the right to effect a -lodgment on the end of the ridge most suitable to attack, and at last -rose up together to charge. The black slope twinkled like jet with the -unexpected glitter of bayonets. The rugged sky-line bristled with kilted -figures, as, in perfect discipline and disdainful silence, those -splendid soldiers closed on their foe. - -The Boers shrank from the contact. Discharging their magazines -furiously, and firing their guns at point-blank range, they fled in -confusion to the main ridge, and the issue of the action was no longer -undecided. - -Still the fight continued. Along the whole Infantry front a tremendous -rifle fire blazed. Far away to the left French's artillery pursued the -retreating Boers with shells. The advanced batteries of Hamilton's -force fired incessantly. The action did not cease with the daylight. -The long lines of burning grass cast a strange, baleful glare on the -field, and by this light the stubborn adversaries maintained their -debate for nearly an hour. - -At length, however, the cannonade slackened and ceased, and the rifles -soon imitated the merciful example of the guns. The chill and silence -of the night succeeded the hot tumult of the day. Regiments assembled -and reformed their ranks, ambulances and baggage waggons crowded forward -from the rear, the burning veldt was beaten out, and hundreds of cooking -fires gleamed with more kindly meaning through the darkness. - -The General rode forward, to find the Gordons massed among the rocks -they had won. The gallant Burney, who commanded the firing line, was -severely wounded. St. John Meyrick was killed. Nine officers and -eighty-eight soldiers had fallen in the attack; but those that remained -were proud and happy in the knowledge that they had added to the many -feats of arms which adorn the annals of the regiment--one that was at -least the equal of Elandslaagte or Dargai; and, besides all this, they -may have reflected that by their devotion they had carried forward the -British cause a long stride to victory, and, better than victory, to -honorable peace. Ian Hamilton spoke a few brief words of thanks and -praise to them--'the regiment my father commanded and I was born -in'--and told them that in a few hours all Scotland would ring with the -tale of their deeds. And well Scotland may, for no men of any race -could have shown more soldier-like behaviour. - -Then we rode back to our bivouac, while the lanterns of searching -parties moved hither and thither among the rocks, and voices cried -'Bearer party this way!' 'Are there any more wounded here?' with -occasional feeble responses. - -Owing to the skilful conduct of the attack, the losses, except among the -Gordons, were not severe--in all about 150 killed and wounded. The -result of the fight--the action of Johannesburg, as we called it--was -the general retreat of all the enemy west of the town under Delarey and -Viljoen northwards towards Pretoria, and, in conjunction with the -Field-Marshal's movements, the surrender of the whole of the -Witwatersrand. - -French, continuing his march at dawn to Driefontein, captured one gun -and several prisoners. Ian Hamilton entered Florida, and found there -and at Maraisburg sufficient stores to enable him to subsist until his -convoys arrived. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - THE FALL OF JOHANNESBURG - - - Johannesburg: June 2. - - -Morning broke and the army arose ready, if necessary, to renew the -fight. But the enemy had fled. The main Rand ridge still stretched -across our path. Its defenders had abandoned all their positions under -the cover of darkness. Already French's squadrons were climbing the -slopes to the eastward and pricking their horses forward to -Elandsfontein (North). So Hamilton's force, having but six miles to -march to Florida, did not hurry its departure, and we had leisure to -examine the scene of yesterday's engagement. Riding by daylight over -the ground of the Gordon's attack, we were still more impressed by the -difficulties they had overcome. From where I had watched the action the -Boers had seemed to be holding a long black kopje, some forty feet high, -which rose abruptly from the grass plain. It now turned out that the -aspect of steepness was produced by the foreshortening effects of the -burnt grass area; that in reality the ground scarcely rose at all, and -that what we had thought was the enemy's position was only a stony -outcrop separated from the real line of defence by a bare space of about -200 yards. - -Looking around I found a Highlander, a broad-shouldered, kind-faced man, -with the Frontier ribbon, which means on a Gordon tunic much hard -fighting; and judging with reason that he would know something of war, I -asked him to explain the ground and its effect. - -'Well, you see, sir,' he said, in quick spoken phrases, 'we was -regularly tricked. We began to lose men so soon as we got on the burnt -grass. Then we made our charge up to this first line of little rocks, -thinking the Boers were there. Of course they weren't here at all, but -back over there, where you see those big rocks. We were all out of -breath, and in no order whatever, so we had to sit tight here and wait.' - -'Heavy fire?' I asked. He cocked his head like an expert. - -'I've seen heavier; but there was enough. We dropped more than forty men -here. 'Tis here poor Mr. ---- was wounded; just behind this stone. You -can see the blood here yet, sir--this mud's it.' - -I looked as required, and he proceeded: - -'We knew we was for it then; it didn't look like getting on, and we -couldn't get back--never a man would ha' lived to cross the black ground -again with the fire what it was, and no attack to fright them off their -aim. There was such a noise of the bullets striking the rocks that the -officers couldn't make themselves heard, and such confusion too! But -two or three of them managed to get together after a while, and they -told us what they wanted done ... and then, of course, it was done all -right.' - -'What was done? What did you do?' - -'Why, go on, sir, and take that other line--the big rocks--soon as we'd -got our breath. It had to be done.' - -He did not seem the least impressed with his feat of arms. He regarded -it as a piece of hard work he had been set to do, and which--this as a -matter of course--he had done accordingly. What an intrepid conquering -machine to depend on in the hour of need!--machine and much more, for -this was a proud and intelligent man, who had thought deeply upon the -craft of war, and had learnt many things in a severe school. - -I had not ridden a hundred yards further, my mind full of admiration for -him and his type, when a melancholy spectacle broke upon the view. Near -a clump of rocks eighteen Gordon Highlanders--men as good as the one I -had just talked with--lay dead in a row. Their faces were covered with -blankets, but their grey stockinged feet--for the boots had been -removed--looked very pitiful. There they lay stiff and cold on the -surface of the great Banket Reef. I knew how much more precious their -lives had been to their countrymen than all the gold mines the lying -foreigners say this war was fought to win. And yet, in view of the dead -and the ground they lay on, neither I nor the officer who rode with me -could control an emotion of illogical anger, and we scowled at the tall -chimneys of the Rand. - -General Ian Hamilton, General Smith-Dorrien, all their staffs, and -everyone who wished to pay a last tribute of respect to brave men, -attended the funerals. The veteran regiment stood around the grave, -forming three sides of a hollow square--Generals and staff filled the -other. The mourning party rested on their arms, reversed; the Chaplain -read the Burial Service, the bodies were lowered into the trench, and -the pipes began the lament. The wild, barbaric music filled the air, -stirring the soldiers, hitherto quite unmoved, with a strange and very -apparent force. Sad and mournful was the dirge wailing of battles -ended, of friendships broken, and ambitions lost; and yet there were -mingled with its sadness many notes of triumph, and through all its -mourning rang the cry of hope. - -The whole of Hamilton's force had marched by ten o'clock, but even -before that hour the advanced guard had passed through Florida and -picketed the hills beyond. Florida is the Kew Gardens of Johannesburg. -A well-built dam across a broad valley has formed a deep and beautiful -lake. Carefully planted woods of Australian pines offer a welcome shade -on every side. The black and white pointed chimneys of the mine -buildings rise conspicuous above the dark foliage. There is a small but -comfortable hotel, called 'The Retreat,' to which on Sundays, in times -of peace, the weary speculators whose minds were shattered by the -fluctuations of the Exchange were wont to resort for rest or diversion. -Everywhere along the reef the signs of industry and commerce were to be -seen. Good macadamised roads crossed each other in all directions; -flashy advertisements caught the eye. A network of telegraphs and -telephones ran overhead. The ground was accurately marked out with -little obelisks of stone into 'Deeps' and 'Concessions,' and labelled -with all the queer names which fill the market columns of the -newspapers. In a word, it seemed--to us dirty, tattered wanderers--that -we had dropped out of Africa and War, and come safely back to Peace and -Civilisation. - -Since the soldiers had eaten their last day's rations, and the only food -they had had that morning came from any odds and ends the regiments -might have saved, it was imperative to find some supplies. The -Field-Marshal had ordered that no troops should enter Johannesburg until -he should specially direct; but, finding little to eat in Florida, -Hamilton sent his supply officer and a squadron as far as Maraisburg; -whence they presently returned with a quantity of tinned rabbit and -sardines, and with the news that the Boers were said to be occupying a -position near Langlaagte mine. - -During the morning we caught a train and some prisoners. The train was -returning from Potchefstroom, guarded by six armed burghers, and on -rifles being pointed, it stopped obediently and surrendered. The other -prisoners were brought in by the Cavalry and Mounted Infantry, who had -caught them wandering about without their horses. Among them was -Commandant Botha--not Louis or Philip--but Botha of the Zoutspansburg -commando, a brave and honest fellow, who had fought all through the war -from Talana Hill until the last action; but who was quite content that -Fate had decided he should fight no more. Hearing of him under guard, -and near headquarters, I went to see him. He displayed no bitterness -whatever, and seemed quite prepared to accept the decision of war. He -inquired anxiously whether he would be sent to St. Helena, and evinced a -childish horror of the sea. While we were chatting, one of the other -Boer prisoners, who had been looking hard at us, said, suddenly, in very -good English: - -'The last time I saw you, you were in my position and I in yours.' - -He then went on to tell me that he had been in the commando that -destroyed the armoured train. 'I felt very sorry for you that day,' he -said. - -I remarked that it was much worse to be taken prisoner at the beginning -of a war than near the end, as he was. - -'Do you think this is the end?' asked the Commandant quickly. - -'I should ask you that.' - -'No, no--not yet the end. They will fight a little more. Perhaps they -will defend Pretoria--perhaps you will have to go to Lydenburg; but it -will not be very long now.' - -And then, since both he and his companion had been through the Natal -campaign, we fell to discussing the various actions. Ian Hamilton came -up while we were talking. I had just told the Commandant that we -considered the Boers had made a fatal strategic mistake in throwing -their main strength into Natal, instead of merely holding the passes, -masking Mafeking and Kimberley, and marching south into the colony with -every man and gun they could scrape together. He admitted that perhaps -that might be so; 'but,' said he, 'our great mistake in Natal was not -assaulting Ladysmith--the Platrand position, you know--the day after our -victory at Lombard's Kop. We blame Joubert for that. Many of us wanted -to go on then. There were no fortifications; the soldiers were -demoralised. If once we had taken the Platrand (Caesar's Camp) you -could not have held the town. How many men had you on top of it?' - -'Only a picket for the first week,' said the General. - -'Ah! I knew we could have done it. What would have happened then?' - -'We should have had to turn you out.' - -The Commandant smiled a superior smile. The General continued: -'Yes--with the bayonet--at night; or else, as you say, the town could -not have been held.' - -'Presently,' said Botha, 'you pulled yourselves together, but for three -days after Nicholson's Nek there was no fear of bayonets. If we had -stormed you then--(then we had all our men and no Buller to think -about)--you would not have been able to turn us out.' - -Hamilton reflected. 'Perhaps not,' he said, after a pause. 'Why didn't -Joubert try it?' - -'Too old,' said Botha, with complete disdain; 'you must have young men -for fighting.' - -That was, so far as I remember, the end of the conversation; but, a -fortnight later, I met Botha a free man in the streets of Pretoria. He -told me he had been released on parole, so that evidently his frank -manliness had not been lost upon the General. - -After lunch I became very anxious to go into, and, if possible, through, -Johannesburg. An important action had been fought, witnessed by only two -or three correspondents; and since the enemy lay between the force and -the telegraph wire no news could have been sent home. Hamilton, indeed, -had sent off two of Rimington's Guides early in the morning with -despatches; but they were to make a wide sweep to the south, and it was -not likely, if they got through at all, that they would reach Lord -Roberts until late. The shortest, perhaps the safest, road lay through -Johannesburg itself. But was the venture worth the risk? While I was -revolving the matter in my mind on the verandah of the temporary -headquarters, there arrived two cyclists from the direction of the town. -I got into conversation with one of them, a Frenchman, Monsieur Lautre -by name. He had come from the Langlaagte mine, with which undertaking -he was connected. There were no Boers there, according to him. There -might or might not be Boers in the town. Could a stranger get through? -Certainly, he thought, unless he were stopped and questioned. He -undertook there and then to be my guide if I wished to go; and it being -of considerable importance to get the telegrams through to London, I -decided, after a good many misgivings, to accept his offer. The -General, who wanted to send a more detailed account of his action, and -to report his arrival at Florida, was glad to avail himself even of this -precarious channel. So the matter was immediately settled. Lautre's -friend, a most accommodating person, got off his bicycle without demur -and placed it at my disposal. I doffed my khaki, and put on a suit of -plain clothes which I had in my valise, and exchanged my slouch hat for -a soft cap. Lautre put the despatches in his pocket, and we started -without more ado. - -The tracks were bad, winding up and down hill, and frequently deep in -sand; but the machine was a good one, and we made fair progress. -Lautre, who knew every inch of the ground, avoided all highways, and led -me by devious paths from one mine to another, around huge heaps of -tailings, across little private tram lines, through thick copses of fir -trees, or between vast sheds of machinery, now silent and idle. In -three-quarters of an hour we reached Langlaagte, and here we found one -of Rimington's scouts pushing cautiously forward towards the town. We -held a brief parley with him, behind a house, for he was armed and in -uniform. He was very doubtful of the situation ahead; only knew for -certain that the troops had not yet entered Johannesburg. 'But,' said -he, 'the Correspondent of the _Times_ passed me more than two hours -ago.' - -'Riding?' I asked. - -'Yes,' he said, 'a horse.' - -'Ah,' said my Frenchman, 'that is no good. He will not get through on a -horse. They will arrest him.' And then, being quite fired with the -adventure: 'Besides, we will beat him, even if, unhappily, he escape the -Boers.' - -So we hurried on. The road now ran for the most part down hill, and the -houses became more numerous. The day was nearly done, and the sun drew -close to the horizon, throwing our long shadows on the white track -before us. At length we turned into a regular street. - -'If they stop us,' said my guide, 'speak French. Les Francois sont en -bonne odeur ici. You speak French, eh?' - -I thought my accent might be good enough to deceive a Dutchman, so I -said yes; and thereafter our conversation was conducted in French. - -We avoided the main thoroughfares, bicycling steadily on through the -poorer quarters. Johannesburg stretched about me on every side, silent, -almost deserted. Groups of moody-looking people chatted at the street -corners, and eyed us suspiciously. All the shops were shut. Most of -the houses had their windows boarded up. The night was falling swiftly, -and its shades intensified the gloom which seemed to hang over the town, -on this the last day of its Republican existence. - -Suddenly, as we crossed a side lane, I saw in the street parallel to -that we followed, three mounted men with slouch hats, bandoliers, and -that peculiar irregular appearance which I have learned to associate -with Boers. But to stop or turn back was now fatal. After all, with -the enemy at their gates, they had probably concerns of their own to -occupy them. We skimmed along unhindered into the central square, and -my companion, whose coolness was admirable, pointed me out the -post-office and other public buildings, speaking all the time in French. -The slope now rose against us so steeply that we dismounted to push our -machines. While thus circumstanced I was alarmed to hear the noise of -an approaching horse behind me. With an effort I controlled my impulse -to look back. - -'_Encore un Boer_,' said Lautre lightly. - -I was speechless. The man drew nearer, overtook and pulled his horse -into a walk beside us. I could not help--perhaps it was the natural, -and, if so, the wise, thing to do--having a look at him. He was a Boer -sure enough, and I think he must have been a foreigner. He was armed -_cap-a-pie_.' The horse he rode carried a full campaigning kit on an -English military saddle. Wallets, saddle-bags, drinking-cup, -holsters--all were there. His rifle was slung across his back, he wore -two full bandoliers over his shoulders and a third round his -waist--evidently a dangerous customer. I looked at his face and our -eyes met. The light was dim, or he might have seen me change colour. -He had a pale, almost ghastly visage, peering ill-favoured and cruel -from beneath a slouch hat with a large white feather. Then he turned -away carelessly. After all, I suppose he thought it natural a poor -devil of a townsman should wish to look at so fine a cavalier of -fortune. Presently he set spurs to his horse and cantered on. I -breathed again freely. Lautre laughed. - -'There are plenty of cyclists in Johannesburg,' he said. 'We do not -look extraordinary. No one will stop us.' - -We now began to approach the south-eastern outskirts of the town. If -the original scheme of advance had been carried out, Lord Roberts's -leading brigade should be close at hand. Lautre said, 'Shall we -inquire?' But I thought it better to wait. As we progressed the streets -became still more deserted, and at last we found ourselves quite alone. -For more than half a mile I did not see a single person. Then we met a -shabby-looking man, and now, no one else being in sight, the night dark, -and the man old and feeble, we decided to ask him. - -'The English,' he said with a grin, 'why, their sentinels are just at -the top of the hill.' - -'How far?' - -'Five minutes--even less.' - -Two hundred yards further on three British soldiers came in sight. They -were quite unarmed, and walking casually forward into the town. I -stopped them and asked what brigade they belonged to. They replied -Maxwell's. - -'Where is the picket line?' - -'We haven't seen no pickets,' said one of them. - -'What are you doing?' - -'Looking for something to eat. We've had enough of 'arf rations.' - -I said, 'You'll get taken prisoners or shot if you go on into the town.' - -'Wot's that, guvnor?' said one of them, deeply interested in this -extraordinary possibility. - -I repeated, and added that the Boers were still riding about the -streets. - -'Well, then, I ain't for it,' he said with decision. 'Let's go back and -try some of them 'ouses near the camp.' - -So we all proceeded together. - -I discovered no picket line at the edge of the town. Maxwell must have -had one somewhere, but it certainly did not prevent anyone from passing -freely; for we were never challenged, and, walking on, soon found -ourselves in the middle of a large bivouac. I now became of some use to -my companion, for if he knew the roads I knew the army. I soon found -some officers of my acquaintance, and from them we learned that Lord -Roberts's headquarters were not at Elandsfontein (South), but back at -Germiston, nearly seven miles away. It was now pitch dark, and all -signs of a road had vanished; but Lautre declared he knew his way, and, -in any case, the messages--press and official--had to go through. - -We left the camp of Maxwell's Brigade and struck across country in order -to cut into the main southern road. A bicycle now became a great -incumbrance, as the paths wound through dense fir woods, obstructed by -frequent wire fences, ditches, holes, and high grass. Lautre, however, -persisted that all was well, and, as it turned out, he was right. After -about an hour of this slow progress we reached the railway, and, seeing -more camp fires away to the left, turned along it. Half a mile in this -direction brought us to another bivouac, which we likewise entered -unchallenged. I asked a soldier whose brigade he belonged to, but he -did not know, which was painfully stupid of him. A group of officers -were gathered round an enormous fire a few yards away, and we went up to -them to ask. Chance had led me to General Tucker's mess. I had known -the commander of the Seventh Division in India, when he was stationed at -Secunderabad, and he welcomed me with his usual breezy courtesy. He had -been sent off with his leading brigade late in the afternoon to try to -join hands with French, and so complete the circle round Johannesburg; -but darkness had curtailed his march. Besides this, no communications -having yet come through from the Cavalry, he was uncertain where French -was. Naturally he was interested to hear what had passed on the west of -the town, and about the stirring action of the previous day. From him I -got some whisky and water, and clear directions to the Field-Marshal's -headquarters. They were, it appeared, two miles beyond Germiston, a mile -and a half west of the road, in a solitary house on a small hill which -stood beyond a large tank. And in case these indications might have -been of little avail in the dark, he led us a few feet up the slope, and -there we saw that, on the blackness of the night, flamed a regular -oblong of glittering lights. It was the camp of the Eleventh Division. -Somewhere near that were the Chief's headquarters. Thus instructed, we -resumed our journey. - -Another half-hour of walking brought us, as Lautre had promised, to a -good firm road, and the bicycles quickly made amends for their previous -uselessness. The air was cold, and we were glad to spin along at a fair -ten miles an hour. At this rate twenty minutes brought us into -Germiston. Not knowing where I should be likely to find dinner, or a -bed, I dismounted opposite the hotel, and, seeing lights and signs of -occupation, went inside. Here I found Mr. Lionel James, the principal -Correspondent of the _Times_. I asked him if his subordinate had -arrived from Hamilton's force. He said 'No'; and when I told him he had -started two hours in front of me, looked much concerned; whereat the -Frenchman could not conceal a heartless grimace. I offered to give him -some account of the action for his own use (for what is more detestable -than a jealous journalist?), but he said that I had had the good luck to -come through, and that he would not think of depriving me of my -advantage. Alas! the days of newspaper enterprise in war are over. -What can one do with a censor, a forty-eight hours' delay, and a -fifty-word limit on the wire? Besides, who can compete with Lord -Roberts as a special correspondent? None against the interest of his -daily messages; very few against their style and simple grace. Never -mind. It is all for the best. - -We dined hastily and not too well, secured the reversion of half the -billiard table, should all other couches fail, and set out again, this -time tired and footsore. After two miles of dusty track the camp was -reached. I found more officers who knew where Army Headquarters were, -and at last, at about half-past ten, we reached the solitary house. We -sent the despatches in by an orderly, and after a few minutes Lord Kerry -came out and said that the Chief wanted to see the messengers. - -Now, for the first time in this war, I found myself face to face with -our illustrious leader. The room was small and meanly furnished, and he -and his staff, who had just finished dinner, sat round a large table -which occupied the greater part of the floor. With him were Sir William -Nicholson (who arranges all the transport of the army, a work the credit -of which is usually given to Lord Kitchener) and Colonel Neville -Chamberlayne, his private secretary, both of them soldiers of the -practical Indian school, where you have real fighting, both of them -serving once more under their commander of Afghan days. There, too, was -Sir Henry Rawlinson, whom I had last seen round Sir George White's -table, the night Dundonald broke into Ladysmith; and Sir James -Hills-Johnes, who won the Victoria Cross in the Indian Mutiny, and -aides-de-camp and others whom I cannot remember. - -The Field-Marshal rose from his place, shook hands, and bade us, in most -ceremonious fashion, to be seated. He had read half of Hamilton's -despatch. - -'The first part of this,' he said, 'we knew already. Two -guides--Rimington's, I think--got in here about an hour ago. They had a -dangerous ride, and were chased a long way, but escaped safely. I am -glad to hear Hamilton is at Florida. How did you get through?' - -I told him briefly. His eye twinkled. I have never seen a man before -with such extraordinary eyes. I remember to have been struck with them -on several occasions. The face remains perfectly motionless, but the -eyes convey the strongest emotions. Sometimes they blaze with anger, and -you see hot yellow fire behind them. Then it is best to speak up -straight and clear, and make an end quickly. At others there is a steel -grey glitter--quite cold and uncompromising--which has a most sobering -effect on anyone who sees it. But now the eyes twinkled brightly with -pleasure or amusement or approbation, or, at any rate, something -friendly. - -'Tell me about the action,' he said. - -So I told him all I knew, much as it is set down in these pages, though -not nearly at such length; but I don't think the tale lost in the -telling. From time to time he asked questions about the Artillery -concentration, or the length of front of the Infantry attack, and other -technical matters, on which I was luckily well-informed. The fact that -the troops had no rations seemed to disturb him very much. He was -particularly interested to hear of Hamilton's novel attack 'at thirty -paces extension'; of the manner in which the batteries had been rammed -almost into the firing line; but most of all he wanted to hear about the -Gordons' charge. When I had done he said: 'The Gordons' always do -well.' Then he asked what we proposed to do. Lautre said he would go -back forthwith; but the Chief said, 'Much better stay here for the -night; we will find you beds'; so of course we stayed. He asked me -whether I meant to go back next morning. I said that as I had got my -messages to the telegraph office I thought, upon the whole, that I would -not run any more risks, but wait and see the British occupation of the -town. He laughed at this, and said that I was quite right, and would be -very ill-advised to be caught again. Then he said that he would send a -letter to Hamilton in the morning, bade us all 'good-night,' and retired -to his waggon. I, too, found a comfortable bed--the first for a -month--and being thoroughly worn out soon fell asleep. - -Part of Lord Roberts's letter that he wrote to Ian Hamilton next day was -published in the orders of the flanking column. In some way it explains -why the private soldier will march further for 'Bobs Bahadur' than for -any one else in the world. - -'I am delighted at your repeated successes, and grieve beyond measure at -your poor fellows being without their proper rations. A trainful shall -go to you to-day. I expect to get the notice that Johannesburg -surrenders this morning, and we shall then march into the town. I wish -your column, which has done so much to gain possession of it, could be -with us. - -'Tell the Gordons that I am proud to think I have a Highlander as one of -the supporters on my coat-of-arms.' - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - THE CAPTURE OF PRETORIA - - - Pretoria: June 8. - - -The Commander-in-Chief had good reasons--how good we little knew--for -wishing to push on at once to the enemy's capital, without waiting at -Johannesburg. But the fatigue of the troops and the necessities of -supply imposed a two days' halt. On the 3rd of June the advance was -resumed. The army marched in three columns. The left, thrown forward -in echelon, consisted of the Cavalry Division under French; the centre -was formed by Ian Hamilton's force; and the right or main column nearest -the railway comprised the Seventh and Eleventh Divisions (less one -brigade left to hold Johannesburg), Gordon's Cavalry Brigade, and the -Corps Troops all under the personal command of the Field-Marshal. - -The long forward stride of the 3rd was, except for a small action -against French, unchecked or unopposed by the Boers, and all the -information which the Intelligence Department could collect seemed to -promise a bloodless entry into the capital. So strong was the evidence -that at dawn on the 4th of June Hamilton's column was diverted from its -prescribed line of march on Elandsfontein[#] and drawn in towards the -main army, with orders to bivouac on Pretoria Green, west of the town. -French, whom the change of orders did not reach, pursued his wide -turning movement, and encountered further opposition in a bad country -for cavalry. - - -[#] Yet another Elandsfontein, situated to the west of Pretoria. - - -At ten o'clock it was reported that Colonel Henry, with the corps of -Mounted Infantry in advance of the main column, was actually in the -suburbs of Pretoria without opposition. The force continued to -converge, and Ian Hamilton had almost joined Lord Roberts's force when -the booming of guns warned us that our anticipations were too sanguine. -The army had just crossed a difficult spruit, and Colonel Henry with the -Mounted Infantry had obtained a lodgment on the heights beyond. But here -they were sharply checked. The Boers, apparently in some force, were -holding a wooded ridge and several high hills along the general line of -the southern Pretoria forts. - -Determined to hold what he had obtained, Lord Roberts thrust his -artillery well forward, and ordered Ian Hamilton to support Colonel -Henry immediately with all mounted troops. This was speedily done. The -horsemen galloped forward, and, scrambling up the steep hillsides, -reinforced the thin firing line along the ridge. The artillery of the -Seventh Division came into action in front of the British centre. The -Boers replied with a brisk rifle fire, which reached all three -batteries, and drew from them a very vigorous cannonade. - -Meanwhile the Infantry deployment was proceeding. The 14th Brigade -extended for attack. Half an hour later Pole-Carew's batteries -prolonged the line of guns to the right, and about half-past two the -corps and heavy artillery opened in further prolongation. By three -o'clock fifty guns were in action in front of the main army, and both -the Seventh and Eleventh Divisions had assumed preparatory formations. -The balloon ascended and remained hanging in the air for an hour--a -storm signal. - -During this time Hamilton was pushing swiftly forward, and -Smith-Dorrien's 19th Infantry Brigade occupied the line of heights, and -thus set free the mounted troops for a turning movement. The 21st -Brigade supported. The heights were so steep in front of Hamilton that -his artillery could not come into action, and only one gun and one -'pom-pom' could, by great exertion, be dragged and man-handled into -position. The fire of these pieces, however, caught the Boers holding -the weeded ridge in enfilade, and was by no means ineffective. - -So soon as Hamilton had collected the mounted troops he sent them to -reinforce Broadwood, whom he directed to move round the enemy's right -flank. The ground favoured the movement, and by half-past four the -Cavalry were seen debouching into the plain beyond the Boer position, -enveloping their flank and compromising their retreat. - -Colonel de Lisle's corps of Mounted Infantry, composed mainly of -Australians, made a much shorter circuit, and reaching the level ground -before the Cavalry espied a Boer Maxim retreating towards the town. To -this they immediately gave chase, and the strong Waler horses were urged -to their utmost speed. The appearance of this clattering swarm of -horsemen, must have been formidable to those below. But we who watched -from the heights saw what Ian Hamilton, who was in high spirits, -described as 'a charge of infuriated mice' streaming across the brown -veldt; so great are the distances in modern war. - -Towards four o'clock the cannonade all along the front had died away, -and only the heavy artillery on the right of Pole-Carew's Division -continued to fire, shelling the forts, whose profile showed plainly on -the sky-line, and even hurling their projectiles right over the hills -into Pretoria itself. So heavy had the artillery been that the Boers -did not endure, and alarmed as well by the flank movement they retreated -in haste through the town; so that before dusk their whole position was -occupied by the Infantry without much loss. Night, which falls at this -season and in this part of the world as early as half-past five, then -shut down on the scene, and the action--in which practically the whole -Army Corps had been engaged--ended. - -The fact that the forts had not replied to the British batteries showed -that their guns had been removed, and that the Boers had no serious -intention of defending their capital. The Field-Marshal's orders for the -morrow were, therefore, that the army should advance at daybreak on -Pretoria, which it was believed would then be formally surrendered. -Meanwhile, however, Colonel de Lisle, with the infuriated mice--in other -words, the Australians--was pressing hotly on, and at about six o'clock, -having captured the flying Maxim, he seized a position within rifle shot -of the town. From here he could see the Boers galloping in disorder -through the streets, and, encouraged by the confusion that apparently -prevailed, he sent an officer under flag of truce to demand the -surrender. This the panic-stricken civil authorities, with the consent -of Commandant Botha, obeyed, and though no British troops entered the -town until the next day, Pretoria actually fell before midnight on the -4th of June. - -As soon as the light allowed the army moved forward. The Guards were -directed on the railway station. Ian Hamilton's force swept round the -western side. Wishing to enter among the first of the victorious troops -the town I had crept away from as a fugitive six months before, I -hurried forward, and, with the Duke of Marlborough, soon overtook -General Pole-Carew, who, with his staff, was advancing towards the -railway station. We passed through a narrow cleft in the southern wall -of mountains, and Pretoria lay before us--a picturesque little town with -red or blue roofs peeping out among masses of trees, and here and there -an occasional spire or factory chimney. Behind us, on the hills we had -taken, the brown forts were crowded with British soldiers. Scarcely two -hundred yards away stood the railway station. - -Arrived at this point, General Pole-Carew was compelled to wait to let -his Infantry catch him up; and while we were delayed a locomotive -whistle sounded loudly, and, to our astonishment--for had not the town -surrendered?--a train drawn by two engines steamed out of the station on -the Delagoa Bay line. For a moment we stared at this insolent breach of -the customs of war, and a dozen staff officers, aides-de-camp, and -orderlies (no mounted troops being at hand) started off at a furious -gallop in the hopes of compelling the train to stop, or at least of -scooting the engine-driver, and so sending it to its destruction. But -wire fences and the gardens of the houses impeded the pursuers, and, in -spite of all their efforts, the train escaped, carrying with it ten -trucks of horses, which might have been very useful, and one truck-load -of Hollanders. Three engines with steam up and several trains, however, -remained in the station, and the leading company of Grenadiers, doubling -forward, captured them and their occupants. These Boers attempted to -resist the troops with pistols, but surrendered after two volleys had -been fired, no one, fortunately, being hurt in the scrimmage. - -After a further delay, the Guards, fixing bayonets, began to enter the -town, marching through the main street, which was crowded with people, -towards the central square, and posting sentries and pickets as they -went. We were naturally very anxious to know what had befallen our -comrades held prisoners all these long months. Rumour said they had -been removed during the night to Waterfall Boven, 200 miles down the -Delagoa Bay line. But nothing definite was known. - -The Duke of Marlborough, however, found a mounted Dutchman who said he -knew where all the officers were confined, and who undertook to guide -us, and without waiting for the troops, who were advancing with all due -precautions, we set off at a gallop. - -The distance was scarcely three-quarters of a mile, and in a few -minutes, turning a corner and crossing a little brook, we saw before us -a long tin building surrounded by a dense wire entanglement. Seeing -this, and knowing its meaning too well, I raised my hat and cheered. -The cry was instantly answered from within. What followed resembled the -end of an Adelphi melodrama. - -The Duke of Marlborough called on the commandant to surrender forthwith. -The prisoners rushed out of the house into the yard, some in uniform, -some in flannels, hatless or coatless, but all violently excited. The -sentries threw down their rifles. The gates were flung open, and while -the rest of the guards--they numbered fifty-two in all--stood uncertain -what to do, the long-penned-up officers surrounded them and seized their -weapons. Some one--Grimshaw of the Dublin Fusiliers--produced a Union -Jack (made during imprisonment out of a Vierkleur). The Transvaal -emblem was torn down, and, amid wild cheers, the first British flag was -hoisted over Pretoria. Time 8.47, June 5. - -The commandant then made formal surrender to the Duke of Marlborough of -129 officers and 39 soldiers whom he had in his custody as prisoners of -war, and surrendered, besides himself, 4 corporals and 48 Dutchmen. -These latter were at once confined within the wire cage, and guarded by -their late prisoners; but, since they had treated the captives well, -they have now been permitted to take the oath of neutrality and return -to their homes. The anxieties which the prisoners had suffered during -the last few hours of their confinement were terrible, nor did I wonder, -when I heard the account, why their faces were so white and their manner -so excited. But the reader shall learn the tale from one of their -number, nor will I anticipate. - -At two o'clock Lord Roberts, the staff, and the foreign attaches entered -the town, and proceeded to the central square, wherein the Town Hall, -the Parliament House, and other public buildings are situated. The -British flag was hoisted over the Parliament House amid some cheers. -The victorious army then began to parade past it, Pole-Carew's Division, -with the Guards leading, coming from the south, and Ian Hamilton's force -from the west. For three hours the broad river of steel and khaki -flowed unceasingly, and the townsfolk gazed in awe and wonder at those -majestic soldiers whose discipline neither perils nor hardships had -disturbed, whose relentless march no obstacles could prevent. - -With such pomp and the rolling of drums the new order of things was -ushered in. The former Government had ended without dignity. One -thought to find the President--stolid old Dutchman--seated on his stoep -reading his Bible and smoking a sullen pipe. But he chose a different -course. On the Friday preceding the British occupation he left the -capital and withdrew along the Delagoa Bay Railway, taking with him a -million pounds in gold, and leaving behind him a crowd of officials -clamouring for pay, and far from satisfied with the worthless cheques -they had received, and Mrs. Kruger, concerning whose health the British -people need not further concern themselves. - -I cannot end this letter without recalling for one moment the grave -risks Lord Roberts bravely faced in order to strike the decisive blow -and seize Pretoria. When he decided to advance from Vereeniging without -waiting for more supplies, and so profit by the enemy's disorder, he -played for a great stake. He won, and it is very easy now to forget the -adverse chances. But the facts stand out in glaring outline: that if -the Boers had defended Pretoria with their forts and guns they could -have checked us for several weeks; and if, while we were trying to push -our investment, the line had been cut behind us, as it has since been -cut, nothing would have remained but starvation or an immediate retreat -on Johannesburg, perhaps on the Vaal. Even now our position is not -thoroughly secure, and the difficulties of subjugating a vast country, -though sparsely populated, are such that the troops in South Africa are -scarcely sufficient. But the question of supplies is for the present -solved. The stores of Johannesburg, and still more of Pretoria, will -feed the army for something over a fortnight, and in the meanwhile we -can re-open our communications, and perhaps do much more. But what a -lucky nation we are to have found, at a time of sore need and trouble, a -General great enough to take all risks and overcome all dangers. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - 'HELD BY THE ENEMY' - - - _Extracts from the Journal of Lieutenant H. Frankland, - Royal Dublin Fusiliers, lately prisoner of - war at Pretoria_. - - -Lieutenant Frankland was captured by the Boers when the armoured train -was destroyed at Chieveley, in Natal, on the 15th of November, 1899. He -was carried as a prisoner to Pretoria, where he arrived on the 19th of -November, and where he remained until the 5th of June, 1900, when -Pretoria fell and the greater part of the prisoners were set free by -their victorious comrades. - - - * * * * * - - -'_November_ 19*th.*--To wake up and find oneself enclosed in the space -of a few acres for an indefinite period is scarcely pleasant; however, -one cannot always be miserable. The monotony will, I have no doubt, -become very trying, but for the first few days I have a good deal to do. -The State Model School, which has been turned into a prison for the -officers, is a building of rectangular shape. A long corridor runs -through the centre, and on both sides of this are the rooms, where the -officers sleep. They are supplied with a spring bed and two blankets -apiece, while the whole place is lighted by electricity. At one end is -the dining-room and gymnasium. - -'In front is the road, from which the building is separated by iron -railings. Behind there is a sort of back garden where the police and -soldier servants live in tents, and where the kitchen and the bath-room -are situated. This piece of ground is surrounded on three sides by a -six-foot fence of corrugated iron, and the whole place is watched by a -cordon of armed police, about fifteen being on duty always. The -Government here generously supplies the officers with bread and water, -half a pound of bully beef a day, and groceries. We have a small piece -of ground and a gymnasium for exercise. As there are, alas! about fifty -officers here, we have formed a sort of mess, and for the sum of three -shillings a day we improve our scanty allowance of food. They have -supplied us with a suit of clothes each, but mine was much too big for -me. I began to write my diary this evening, and had a long talk with -Garvice in my regiment, who told me how he had been captured. Dinner -7.30; bed, and sleep. - -'_November_ 20*th.*--It looks as if the rest of my diary for several -months would contain each day the words, "the same as usual." I have -only been here forty-eight hours, but the monotony has already begun to -show itself. Not the monotony only, but the want of freedom, the want -of news, the knowledge that the rest of the war will be carried out -without my share in its victories, when, had it not been for some -unhappy fate, I might yet have seen many an action--all these combine to -oppress and irritate my mind. I tried to make a sketch of the armoured -train, but it was not a success, and I must begin again to-morrow. The -very length of empty time in front of me makes me quite patient. - -'_November_ 21*st.*--It is getting extremely hot. The lack of open -space to walk in makes me feel lazy, and one gets quite tired after -going a few times around the building. What one most looks forward to -are the meals, and these are not very satisfying. But of course I am -still suffering from the appetite of freedom, and I have no doubt that a -month or so of this sort of life will make me feel less ravenous. I -wrote some of my diary, and commenced another sketch of the armoured -train, which I hope to be able to send to the "Graphic." Churchill has -written asking to be released, but he does not expect any result. The -mosquitoes here are very troublesome, and I have been constantly bitten. - -'_November_ 23*rd.*--The mail was supposed to go to-day, so I found -occupation in a few letters. It is still very sultry. I succeeded in -getting through a good deal of my diary, and, after writing nearly all -day, played a game of rounders in the evening. This last occupation -appears to cause much annoyance to the police, who frequently get hit by -the ball. Another game here is fives, which we play with a tennis ball -in the gymnasium. There seems to be some news about, but we can get -nothing out of these people. By these people I mean Malan--a spiteful, -objectionable animal--who ought to be at the front, were he not a -coward; Opperman, a slightly more agreeable person, of large dimensions, -and Dr. Gunning, a much more amiable fellow. It seems absurd that they -do not allow us to buy papers. What harm could we do with them? - -'Some of the restrictions are so childish, and tend to make life here so -sickening, that I am sure if curses could harm the Transvaal Government -it would not be long-lived. - -'This morning Churchill was visited by De Souza, the Secretary of War, -by the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and others, and there -followed a very animated discussion about the causes and the justice of -the war. It was a drawn game, and they all talked at once at the end, -especially Churchill. I am afraid for his sake he is not likely to be -exchanged or released. The Boers have got to hear of the part he played -in the armoured train episode. - -'_November_ 24*th.*--There is some news abroad to-day. The Free Staters -have been attacked at Belmont by the British, probably under Buller, but -the result is uncertain. Of course the Boers report a victory on their -side, but one gets quite accustomed to their "victories." Dundee was a -victory, likewise Elandslaagte. I am getting on slowly with my diary, -and manage to make it occupy a great deal of time. - -'_November_ 25*th.*--Evidently we have won a victory at Belmont; its -results are immediately apparent here. They have suddenly become much -more lenient and complacent. We are actually allowed newspapers, and -the President is considering the question of beer. The papers admit -that the British drove the Free Staters from their position at Belmont, -but with great loss, while that of the Boers is practically nil. Rumours -say that General Joubert is cut off between Estcourt and Mooi River; how -I hope it is true! - -'_November_ 26*th.*--The Rev. Mr. Hofmeyr is a prisoner here, and held -service this morning, when he delivered a most eloquent address. There -is a harmonium in one of the rooms, and Mr. Hofmeyr, who sings very -well, gives us some very good music. He knows a lot of old English -songs, which are pleasant to hear, although they rather suggest the -Psalm beginning "By the waters of Babylon." Hofmeyr, though a Dutchman, -is an ardent supporter of the Imperial cause, and he has in consequence -been very cruelly treated by the Boers before he came here. - -'It is quite touching to see how the Boers try to hide their defeat. -All the accounts are cooked, but even De Souza acknowledges that if -things go on as at present the war will soon be over. There have been -several days' fighting south of Kimberley, and Buller is advancing -steadily. On the Natal side Joubert passed Estcourt, and reached Mooi -River, where he was attacked by the new division and defeated. In -retiring he was attacked by part of the Estcourt garrison, result -unknown. He will probably retire on Colenso. - -'_November_ 27*th.*--Not much news to-day. According to the "Volksstem" -British lost fifteen hundred at Belmont, and the Boers nine killed and -forty wounded. However, they can't deny that the Free Staters were -licked, and De Souza admits that Kimberley will probably be relieved -shortly. Moreover, Khama is said to have risen. This has disturbed -them all exceedingly, and Opperman is highly indignant. - -'_November_ 30*th.*--I find nothing to record here except the scraps of -news one gets in the newspapers, all else is monotonous--appalling -monotony. In the evening one feels it most, and sometimes I don't think -I can endure it for another month. All sorts of absurd rumours are -spread about here by that intelligent paper the "Volksstem." The latest -is that four British regiments have refused to fight, being in sympathy -with the Republican cause. I wonder whether Buller will desert to the -Boer side? The fact remains that the papers give no news whilst there -must be plenty, and this looks as if the untold news must be bad for -them. We hear that General Forestier-Walker has been killed, and that -Lord Methuen is seriously wounded. This morning the rumour runs that -our troops have occupied Colenso. The regiment is sure to be there. -How I wish I were with it! - -'_December_ 4*th.*--No real news, but various and contradictory rumours. -The Boers have begun to acknowledge their losses, and the paper have -long lists of killed and wounded. Major ----, of the West Yorks, arrived -to-day, having been captured near Estcourt. From him I learned that all -was well there. A few days ago three battalions--West Yorks, Borderers -and Second Queen's--went out and attacked the Boers. Apparently the -engagement was indecisive, and the losses on either side not very great. -The rumour goes that Buller is in Natal, and not in the Free State after -all. Of course he is advancing to the relief of Ladysmith. We all -think that his plan will be to hold the Boers in front of Colenso while -he takes a large force around by the flank. The Boers have retired -beyond the river, and have blown up the Tugela railway bridge. On the -other side, Lord Methuen's Division is having severe fighting; he has -defeated the Boers at Modder River, and the relief of Kimberley is -imminent. The papers do not publish much news themselves, but -occasionally publish some of the English cuttings with sarcastic -editorial comments. In the Dutch version of the "Volksstem" they slate -the Free Staters unmercifully for having run away at Modder River. - -'Oh, that we might be exchanged. Joubert has wired _via_ Buller to -England advocating such a step. - -'_December_ 15*th.*--"_Tempus fugit_," and it has not been quite so dull -as usual. First, and most important of all, Churchill has escaped. -Whether he has made it good or not is still uncertain; but he has now -been gone two days, and I have great hopes. Besides the excitement there -has been a very amusing side to the affair. Of course Churchill was the -very last person who ought to have gone. He was always talking and -arguing with the officials, and was therefore well known, and, indeed, -scarcely a day passed without Dr. Gunning or Mr. de Souza inquiring for -him. His plans for escape were primitive; but, being still in prison, I -must not write anything about this part of the affair. Let it suffice -that Churchill got away without any trace left behind. Next morning, as -it chanced, it was the day for the barber to come and shave him, and -having only just woke up I put the barber off rather feebly by saying -that Churchill had gone to the bath-room, and would not need shaving. -What should the detective who accompanied the barber do but wait outside -the bath-room, and, finding no Churchill, began to suspect. Gunning -then came upon the scene, closely followed by Opperman, both asking and -seeking anxiously for their captive. Their distress at finding him gone -was really pathetic. They immediately put on all kinds of restrictions. -No papers, calling rolls, not allowing anyone into the yard outside the -building after 8 P.M,, and stopping all beer. I am reminded of the -fable "Le Corbeau et le Renard," which ends, "Le Corbeau ... jura, mais -un peu tard, qu'on ne l'y prendroit plus." Curiously enough, the day -after Churchill had escaped an order is said to have come from General -Joubert for his release. However, I have no doubt but that this was all -made up to excuse themselves for not being able to catch him. I do hope -he gets away. - -'Our spirits are constantly on the rise and fall. At one time we are -about to be exchanged, at another nothing has been heard of it; at one -time there is a brilliant British success, greatly modified, of course, -by the enlightened "Volksstem" editor, at another a crushing British -defeat, with all the Generals and thousands of soldiers killed and -wounded. Yesterday we heard of the splendid achievement of the British -troops in Ladysmith in smashing up the 84-pounder at Lombard's Kop, -several Howitzers and a Maxim. Then came the defeat of General Gatacre -at Stormburg, and the capture of 600 prisoners, and on the top of this -the victory which the Boers claim at Magersfontein. All this is very -terrible. I think I feel almost as miserable as I did the night I was -captured. Are the British troops ever going to drive the Boers back? -Will they ever come and take Pretoria? or will they, on the other hand, -be driven back, and the people at home get sick of the war, like in '81, -and--no, impossible--and yet who will dare predict? It is too awful to -hear all these shocking reports, and to be able to do nothing oneself. -One always imagines on these occasions one's presence at the scene of -fighting absolutely indispensable if there is to be a victory. However, -these miserable days cannot last for ever. Perhaps they are even now at -an end. De Souza, with a faltering voice, has confessed that Buller is -advancing at last in great force. He must win. - -'_December_ 19*th.*--Worse than ever. Buller has attacked in full -strength at Colenso and has been defeated with a loss of ten guns and -many hundred men. This is too awful--I could have cried. The hand of -fate seems to be raised against us. The only thing to do is to wait -patiently till the next disaster. The Stormburg prisoners have arrived, -the Colenso prisoners are expected to-morrow. Everybody is cursing the -Generals; but they always think they could do better themselves. I hear -that Hart's Brigade, with our regiment in it, were caught in quarter -column at close range. They must have suffered terribly. Never mind; -Methuen has relieved Kimberley. The officials all deny it, but it must -be true. - -'_December_ 23*rd.*--No more news. The authorities are getting more and -more silly and disagreeable; all kinds of babyish restrictions are -invented to annoy us. Churchill has got to Delagoa Bay, and has wired -his safe arrival to De Souza. Hurrah! - - - * * * * * - - -'I have not dared until now, when all is a failure, to set down in this -book any account of the one occupation that has prevented us from going -mad with disappointment in these sad times. About the middle of the -month Haldane devised a plan of making a tunnel from under our room -across the road. The five fellows in our dormitory and Le Mesurier, who -shifted his abode for the purpose, began about ten days ago. First, we -thought of cutting a hole in the floor, but, on looking round, we -suddenly found a trap-door already made. Beneath the floor there is a -curious place. The rafters are supported by stone walls, so that -underneath there is a series of compartments about twenty-four feet by -four, with access from one to another by means of man-holes in each -wall. We commenced digging in the compartment next to the one under the -trap-door. The ground at first was very hard, but with chisels and -implements taken from the gymnasium, we managed to get down four feet of -the shaft in about four days. It was a queer sight to see two -half-naked figures digging away by candle light, for we used to work in -reliefs of two--one to dig and the other to cast away the earth in boxes -or jugs. Suddenly, one day, we broke through the hard crust and came to -some soft clay soil. We were delighted at this, and expected to get -through it in no time; but, alas! with the soft earth came water, and -without pumps, bale as we would, we could not get rid of it. Every -morning the shaft was completely bilged; so, having dug down six feet, -our plan was brought to an end, and we had to screw up our trap-door -again in bitter disappointment. The officers of the Gloucester Regiment -are digging too, but they are sure to find the same difficulties. - -'_Christmas Day_, 1899.--I can scarcely realise that it is Christmas, -the day I have hitherto spent at home with family and friends. I can -see the rooms decorated with holly and "Merry Christmas" cut in white -paper and pasted on red Turkish twill hanging over the doorway. A Merry -Christmas! What irony! The time, of course, was bound to come when the -circle at home would be broken; but little did I dream where or under -what unhappy circumstances. A Merry Christmas! to a prisoner--not when -his countrymen, victorious and full of enthusiasm, are marching rapidly -to his release, but when the armies of his country, beaten back, lie far -away; when, helpless himself, despair seizes his heart; when reverses -grow into disasters and the might of the dear old land in which he -trusted seems to have weakened and died. A Happy Christmas! with the -New Year black, uncertain, and unknown. Of course we drank the health -of the Queen at dinner--in lime-juice. 'Twas all we had; but we meant -it none the less. - -'_December_ 30*th.*--They say there were only 1,200 casualties at -Colenso; but we have just heard that ---- and ---- of our regiment have -been killed. O, God! it seems too awful. To hear of all one's friends -crippled or dead; all the best are picked off, and here are we tied up -quite safely with our beastly skins unhurt, and not likely to run into -the slightest danger while our comrades are losing their lives. We must -win this war. - - - * * * * * - - -'_January_ 1*st.*--I have had many arguments as to whether this is the -commencement of a new century or not, and after much reasoning I have -decided that as it is the year 1900, or the nineteen hundredth year, it -is the last of the nineteenth century and not the beginning of the -twentieth. Whatever it may be, this is a hateful place to spend the -beginning of anything in. The "Volksstem" printed a list of casualties -to-day, and I see that our regiment lost forty-two killed at Colenso. -What must the numbers of the wounded have been? [Here follows a list of -wounded officers.] Sergeant Gage was killed, and they say he was one of -the first to cross the waggon bridge. This looks as if the regiment had -stormed the bridge, which is much better than being mown down in quarter -column. All these losses are terrible, but I believe that Colenso is -only a reconnaissance in force. What must a battle be like? - -'The last week has been, if possible, more dreary than usual. One of -the fellows in our room has made himself very obnoxious lately, and has -had to be sat upon severely. I have never met such an ungentlemanlike -creature. It is all the more unpleasant in a place like this, where we -are so closely packed. There are rumours of fighting near Colesburg, -probably by General French. The Boers say the action is indecisive, -which means a victory for us. - -'_January_ 7*th.*--Nothing of importance has occurred lately. There has -been a bit of a fight with Opperman, who tried to take away from -Boscher, the local grocer, his contract for the supply of our mess, on -the ground that Boscher had helped Churchill to escape: Result a -complete victory for us and the reinstatement of Boscher. More Zarps, -as the policemen who guard us are called, and poor little Gunning have -been commandeered. He prepares himself to go. His reason is peculiar. -Should his children, in after years, ask him if he fought for the -freedom of the State, he would like to be able to say "Yes." However, -if he goes I hope he will find a large rock to get behind and so come -back safely. - -'This afternoon a most alarming rumour was started by somebody, namely: -that Ladysmith had fallen. Though I did not actually believe it, we are -always having such frightful disasters that I felt very uncomfortable. -Later, however, we learned that all was well. - -'_January_ 10*th.*--Ladysmith has not fallen. The news of the defeat of -the Boers on the Platrand has been confirmed, and, in spite of their -lies, we know their losses were heavy. At Colesburg there was a night -attack, and a half battalion of the Suffolks got much knocked about. -Two of their officers came in as prisoners yesterday; they say the Boers -have received large reinforcements at Colesburg. There is a rumour that -Dr. Leyds has been arrested in Germany for trying to enlist German -Reservists. A British force is said to be at Douglas, west of -Kimberley. They made a night attack and captured some stores and -ammunition. The Transvaalers in their excitement succeeded in firing -into the Free Staters, shooting, among others, Opperman's nephew. We -offered our sympathies, but after all it is one the less. This evening -we received a most excellent rumour that the Boers had lost 900 men near -Colenso. I hope it is true, and that the Tugela has, therefore, been -crossed. This will be a step towards the relief of Ladysmith. At -Colesburg the Boers are in a critical position. Things seem to be -looking up a bit. I wish that we could get just a little truth. These -rumours torture and deceive. - -'_January_ 14*th.*--All kinds of startling rumours have been about -to-day: The British fighting in overwhelming numbers around Ladysmith; -Buller surprised and taken prisoner at Pieters Station. Boers in a -tight corner at Colesburg. What can one believe? All men are liars--in -Africa! Life is getting very unbearable. I am sure we shall be a lot -of lunatics when we are set free. - -'_January_ 29*th.*--How we clamour for news, and how our spirits rise -and fall as the rumours are favourable or bad. The other day the -prisoners arrived from the Spion Kop fight. The result of the attack on -Spion Kop is not known. We took the hill, but, for some reason, the -rumour goes that we have left it again and re-crossed the river. Can -this be another lie? We hear that the regiment did not cross the waggon -bridge, but tried to swim the river at Colenso last month. Very few got -over. Hensley was killed the other day at Spion Kop. One can scarcely -realise these losses, and I don't think we shall until we join the mess -and see the sad gaps among familiar faces. - -'_February_ 5*th.*--We have been getting a fair share of good news -lately, or, at least, good rumours. The relief of Kimberley is an -established fact. Colesburg is on its last legs, though news of its -surrender to French needs confirmation. There is fighting at the -Tugela, concerning which the latest bulletin is "British have taken a -position--Vaal Krantz." Nor is this all, other factors are at work -besides the British Army. There is considerable dissension between the -Transvaalers and the Free Staters. The former complain that they are -always put in the fore front of the battle, while the latter rejoin that -not only are they invariably sent to the more exposed kopjes, but that -while they are aiding the Transvaalers to fight in Natal they are -receiving no help in the defence of the Free State. - -'_February_ 12*th.*--It would take too long, even when time is nothing -but a curse, to record all the items of news we have lately received. -So many startling rumours have been confirmed and denied that I long to -know what is the real truth, but in the Capital of this doomed -country--in the very metropolis of lies and liars--we shall never learn -the truth until our friends come to bring it with them. - -'I have just finished reading "Esmonde," which I enjoyed very much. One -advantage of my forced sojourn in this country is that I may improve my -education. Indeed, reading occupies the greater part of our time, -though I myself cannot fix my attention on a book for very long under -these miserable circumstances. The State Library has a fair selection -of books, and by paying a small subscription the prisoners are allowed -to take out books therefrom. The only forbidden fruits are the books of -South Africa; for these volumes, recording the evil wrought by the -British race on this chosen people, are carefully stowed away for fear -of the English trying to destroy the histories of their crimes. - -'This morning an officer of the South African Light Horse was buried. -To all intents and purposes he was murdered by the Transvaal Government. -Although he had typhoid fever he was thrown into prison, and not until -the authorities were pretty certain he would die was he sent to the -hospital. Ten officers on parole went as pall-bearers and we all -subscribed for a very pretty wreath. - -'Patience is played as a game here largely by ancient Colonels and -Majors, and practised by us all with indifferent success as a cruel -necessity. - -'_February_ 17*th.*--Good news at last! Kimberley has been relieved! -Boers are retiring in all directions. Lord Roberts, with the British -Army, has entered the Free State. Warrenton has been occupied, there is -great consternation in Pretoria. Opperman is furious. Perhaps the tide -has begun to turn. - -To explain how we get news: Brockie, a Sergeant-Major in the Imperial -Light Horse, knows a Zarp here and gets a certain amount of news from -him, which is not, however, very trustworthy. When we first came here -an Englishman named Patterson, employed in the Government telegraph -office, used to pass by the railings and whisper the news. He only used -to come when there was good news to tell, and generally ended with the -words, Hurrah, hurrah! Since he was always accompanied on these -occasions by a large St. Bernard, we called him the Dogman. Lately he -has elaborated and improved his system of giving us news and has begun -to signal with a flag from the passage of Mr. Cullingworth's house -opposite. Either he or one of the Misses Cullingworth stands some way -back in the passage so as not to be visible to the Zarps and sends -messages, which are read by Captain Burrows from the gymnasium window. -As he is in the telegraph office and sees all that passes, the Dogman -sends very truthful information. - -'_February_ 18*th.*--More good news this morning. Cronje is lost, -strayed or stolen. The Boers have been driven back at Dordrecht. The -British Army is within forty miles of Bloemfontein. Buller has taken -the Tugela position. All this needs no comment. "_Quo plus--eo -plus----_." I meant to quote a Latin phrase--the only one I ever -knew--but I cannot risk the tenses and moods of he verbs. It means, -however, the more we have the more we want. We live, as it were, from -news to news. Two officers arrived from Colesburg this morning. They -say Colesburg has never been quite surrounded, only hemmed on three -sides. General French began to withdraw his Cavalry about three weeks -ago, sending away detachments every night until only an Infantry Brigade -was left to sit in front of Colesburg, occupying exactly the same extent -of front as before. The Boers never spotted this, so that French and -his Cavalry succeeded in joining the Free State column, and the Infantry -Brigade, by making a great show of their forces, was able to keep up the -ruse until the other day, when it was decided to retire. Everything -went well with the retirement except for two companies of the Wiltshire -who were cut off and captured after a gallant fight. I suppose all -Governments lie to a certain extent about their defeats, but this Boer -one takes the cake. - -'_February_ 19*th.*--I have caught the patience disease. I spent most -of the day at this interesting game, but found by 7 P.M. I was rather -sick of it. Le Mesurier told me to-day that Haldane, Brockie, Grimshaw -and he had thought of a plan of escape. The idea was to put out the -electric light in the house and in the yard by cutting the wire as it -entered the building in the roof above the entrance. The sudden -extinguishing of the lights on a dark night would enable them to creep -to the back wall and climb over unobserved by the Zarps, whose eyes -would not have become accustomed to the sudden darkness, They had made -small ladders, by means of which they could climb over the corrugated -iron more easily and with less noise. Once outside, they were going to -trek for Mafeking, which is only about one hundred and eighty miles off. -They had meant to go to-night, but, though it was wet, there was too -much lightning. - -'_February_ 21*st.*--More good news both from Stormburg and the Tugela. -Our friend Opperman is getting excessively polite. I think one can best -describe him as a greasy, unwashed bully, oily physically and morally, -cruel to anyone in his power, cringing to those he fears. - -'_February_ 22*nd.*--We hear that Cronje is completely surrounded. De -Wet tried to break the encircling cordon, but was defeated with great -loss. Buller has taken the Boschkop and all the British troops have -crossed the Tugela. - -'A very amusing article appeared in one of the papers the other day, in -which Napoleon was termed "the Botha of the early '10's." Botha the -Napoleon of these days is presumption, but Napoleon, the Botha of the -early '10's! I cannot help pitying the editor of the "Volksstem," as he -is only allowed to publish good news, and must really be at his -wit's-end to know what to put in now. - -'Haldane and the others had arranged to go to-night, but unfortunately -the sentry was walking about the place which had been chosen for getting -over, so that the escape was prevented.' - -'_February_ 24*th.*--Haldane and Co. have tried again. This time they -were determined to go. Clough, the servant, was sent up _via_ the -gymnasium on to the roof to cut the wire. I gave the signal by going -into the room under the main switch and asking for a map. The light went -down temporarily but came up again almost immediately. We were much -alarmed lest Clough should have got a shock, but he came down all right, -surprised that the lights had not gone out. Of course the escape was -off. - -'_February_ 25*th.*--We were all sure that Clough had not cut the wires -at all last night. He had received a slight shock and then left it, so -it was arranged that Cullen should try. However, the position of the -sentry again prevented any attempt. - -'_February_ 26*th.*--Best, of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, arrived to-day -from the Tugela. He said that all were well down there, though the -fighting had been very severe, and that the troops were beyond Pieters. -Cronje had no food and must surrender shortly. - -'This evening the lights went out without any mistake. Opperman was -greatly alarmed, and the electrician could not find out what was up. -They all believed a football must have hit the wire outside and put the -light out. Probably Clough had partially severed the wires, and the -football had completed the damage. Now, however, the wire being broken -before it was quite dark, the advantage of surprise would be lost. It -was, moreover, a bright night, and we noticed that the light in the -streets shone on the wall where we had meant to climb over it. The -sentries were doubled, so we finally gave up the plan and tried to think -of another. We are told that they will remove us to a new place on the -1st of March, and, perhaps, this will give us a better chance. - - - * * * * * - - -'When I went into my room at about 9.30 I found that Le Mesurier, -Haldane, and Brockie were having a discussion. As we were to move in -two days to the new prison they argued "why not go to earth now." The -authorities would think they had escaped under cover of the light going -out and would, if anything, hasten the removal of the prisoners, leaving -these three under the floor to depart in peace when opportunity offered. - -'_February_ 27*th.*--This morning Opperman came into our room as usual -to count the number of prisoners in bed, and on seeing three beds empty -he fairly staggered with astonishment. I was looking at him with one -eye and chuckled to myself at his dismay. He went and asked Brett if he -knew anything about it. Brett asked innocently, "About what?" Then I -pretended to wake up and ask Opperman what the hell he meant by -disturbing us at this hour. He left the room in a fury, but presently -returned with Gunning and later with Du Toit, the Chief of the Police, -who examined everything _a la_ Sherlock Holmes, and expressed, with a -smile, his confidence in the recapture of the flown birds. After -breakfast the whole house was cleared and searched. The rooms, the -cupboards, the roof--everywhere except under the floor. Then they -brought in a dark lantern, and I really thought they had discovered the -fugitives at last, but Sherlock Holmes never thought of the floor; his -reasoning did not carry him there. He found Haldane's saw made out of a -table knife, and connecting this with the hole in the roof of the -gymnasium, and the wires cut, he was sure they had gone away in the -darkness. The rest, such is their mutual trust of one another in this -country, were quite sure somebody had been bribed. The theories of the -other officers in the prison are diverting. The discussions as to how -the escaped had got out and where they had gone were full of -imagination, but quite off the mark. In the afternoon Opperman and -Sherlock Holmes came in with a hat and said the prisoners had been seen -going over the hills towards Mafeking and had dropped the hat in -question. By nightfall they had been tracked to Koodoosburg, about -thirty miles out; and, indeed, the remains of their midday meal had been -found. O wise detectives! This evening the Dogman went into -Cullingworth's house in a great state of excitement and lit a candle at -the verandah--a sign of good news, and on Majuba day too! - -'_February_ 28*th.*--We received the good news which the Dogman's -excitement last night portended. Cronje has surrendered. This was -received through the British Consul at Delagoa Bay. Buller has also -driven back the Boers, and Botha wired: "No use; Burghers here won't -face British." In the afternoon we received the following wire: -"Cronje's surrender unconditional. Boers retreating on the -Biggarsburg," and in the evening we heard that the British were entering -Ladysmith. - -'Three more officers replaced the three escaped in my room. We did not -let them know about those underground, but I managed to send food, news, -and water down as usual, also some hot cocoa at night. - -'_March_ 1*st.*--Ladysmith is relieved. Joubert wires: "On Lancers -coming out of Ladysmith my mounted men retired leaving waggons and -stores behind them." This afternoon the Cullingworths signalled over: -"No more news, furthest telegraph station Elandslaagte." Kruger has -gone to the front to exhort his burghers with texts. He was preceded by -a telegram which was sent to all laagers. It is too long and too -profane for me to copy out. Nothing but texts and psalms, showing that -they are bound to win "though the enemy compass them about," as the -Almighty is their own exclusive and peculiar property. The "Volksstem" -says: "There seems to be some foundation for the rumour that Cronje has -surrendered, but the report that Ladysmith has been relieved is quite -untrue, our burghers are still fighting bravely south of that town. -Should, however, Ladysmith be relieved, the war will only enter upon a -new phase. We will then have to defend our borders against the greedy -grasp of an unholy race. Now will the British see what fighting with -the Boers really is. Now will the war begin in earnest." - -'(Sherlock Holmes & Co. are completely off the track and all is well -below.) - -'_March_ 2*nd.*--There are no signs of our moving into our new prison. -This is very disconcerting as our friends cannot stay below much longer -without getting ill. The Zarps' tents have been moved into the road. -Opperman says because the yard was damp, but I fancy they are afraid of -an attack on the Zarps. With the dumbbells in the gymnasium it might be -possible to overpower them. The day was wet and dreary; I wrote -letters, Mr. Hofmeyr prayed for the escaped. I have had to divulge the -secret to No. 12 room, owing to one of them unfortunately seeing the -trap-door open. They were very nice about it, and will do nothing to -compromise the chances of success.' - -'_March 6*th._--Our signals this morning informed us that the President -had wired to Lord Salisbury, "Is it not time bloodshed ceased? Will -send peace proposals." These people have got some nerve. First they -declare war against an Empire, and then they expect that when they have -had enough they can demand a cessation of hostilities. There are no -signs of moving. - -'_March_ 7*th.*--The Ides of March, but I don't expect Kruger will be -murdered in the forum of Pretoria. Those below are still all right, -though their condition is not enviable. - -'_March_ 8*th.*--The following telegrams were received to-day by our -signaller-in-chief Burrows: (1) Fighting with De Wet; (2) Occupation of -Bloemfontein on the 6th. I busied myself in drawing a picture of Kruger -going to the front to exhort his burghers, on the wall my room. There -seems no chance of moving. Opperman says they have not even put down -the floor in our new abode. Haldane wants to try to make them move. He -thought that if Grimshaw vanished too it might alarm the authorities, -and make them anxious to move us to a more secure place, but I feel -sure--and Grimshaw agrees with me--this would only lead to the discovery -of everything. - -'_March_ 11*th.*--I drew another large picture on my wall, a sequel to -the first. It represents Kruger just escaping from Lord Roberts, who -with drawn sword appears to be running after him at a good pace. My -picture No. 1 is entitled "President Kruger goes to front to exhort his -burghers;" No. 2 "But returns on urgent business." - -'As chances of a move seem so uncertain and they are all determined -below not to give in, it has been decided to try to get out by making a -shallow tunnel, roofed in with cupboard shelves, into the hospital. -Haldane is making arrangements with No. 12 room, who, it appears, are -following the same plan. - -'_March_ 12*th.*--The man who came for grocery orders reported this -morning that Bloemfontein had fallen, but our signal was that the -British were within seven miles of the Free State capital. Opperman saw -my portraits of Kruger this morning; I am afraid he did not appreciate -them as he should have done. However, I told him that with a pail of -whitewash and a brush he might obliterate them if he chose. (N.B.--Such -is the procrastinating nature of these Boer-Hollander people that -Opperman never had the pictures removed, and this with other things had, -I believe, a good deal to do with his own eventual removal.) - -'No. 12 decided to have nothing more to do with the digging plan. We -have therefore arranged that Grimshaw, Garvice, and I shall take part in -the operation. Garvice has not been informed of Le Mesurier's -whereabouts, but has decided to dig. The Colonials in No. 20 room are -also digging, but theirs is to be a deep tunnel and I doubt if they can -master the water question. - -'_March_ 13*th.*--Tragedy. The Dogman and Cullingworth have been -commandeered as undesirables, but intend, I fancy, to escape to the -British lines. We signalled to him, "Good-bye, eternal gratitude, God -bless you!" The Dogman replied, "British twenty miles north of -Bloemfontein; Good-bye; speedy release; will return with Bobs." - -'We started our shaft under the big room No. 16. Apparently we made a -good deal of noise, for the old Colonels were very much alarmed and -threatened to stop all digging, though they did not know who the -culprits were. Opperman came into the room when mining was in full -swing below, and it was all the occupants could do to hustle him -outside, drowning the noise of the pick by stamping. We were rather -distressed and decided to wait a few days. Garvice was very much -startled when he saw Le Mesurier. He describes his feelings vividly. -On going down by the trap-door he remarked what an awful hole it was. -Suddenly, in the flickering candle-light he saw a gaunt, bearded, -unwashed face, and a half-naked body. At first he could not make out -what it was, but when he at last realised it was a brother officer he -said you could have knocked him down with a feather had it not been that -he was already crawling on his stomach. The new shaft is a long way -off; when I went down I had to crawl on hands and knees along passages -and through man-holes, backwards and forwards in a regular maze of -compartments, and, indeed, had the candle gone out one could easily have -been lost. Haldane looked very ill, but the others, except for being -covered with dirt, seemed well enough. - -'_March_ 14*th.*--Grimshaw went down this evening to hold a confab. -They have managed to dig without making a noise by wetting the earth. -Grimshaw and I made the trap-door into one piece by securing the planks -together and also made it so as to batten down from underneath. I sent -them down jugs of water during the day to wash in. - -'_March_ 15*th.*--All went as usual this morning. Grimshaw descended -and did a little digging. In the afternoon Opperman brought the news -that we were to be moved to-morrow! Most of the officers were very -annoyed, but Grimshaw and I sent the information below with gladness. -Well, there was no time to be lost. Food enough to last them a week, -all the bottles filled with water, and everything that could possibly be -of any use to the cave-men was sent down. We heard, however, and not to -our surprise, that others were thinking of going into their respective -holes so as to escape after we had moved. As this could have had no -other effect than to cause the discovery all, we were determined if -possible to stop it. We told Colonel Hunt, and he managed to persuade -all concerned to abandon their schemes. - -'This settled, we set to work, after final good-byes and handshakings, -to putty up the cracks between the boards of the trap-door, which had -already been fastened down from underneath. This we succeeded in doing -to perfection, and after covering the place well with dust, the -trap-door could scarcely have been located by anyone; certainly not by -those who did not know of its existence. - - - * * * * * - - -'_March_ 16*th.*--The Staats Model School at an early hour was more than -usually busy. We were all packing up such belongings as we had. I -rolled everything in my mattress and rugs, and secured with rope. Then -the gates were opened and all baggage was moved out on the road ready to -be packed on the trolleys provided for the occasion. To be outside -those gates was to breathe fresh air; to pass those barriers which had -so long defied our efforts and our wits was like going out into another -world. I went back into my room, and by prearranged taps on the floor -Grimshaw signalled that all was well. I then sang "For Auld Lang Syne" -as a parting farewell. - -'The Government had generously provided cabs for the convenience of the -officers (who afterwards found they had to pay), and at about 10 A.M. -the first cabs rolled off amid the friendly farewells of many -neighbours. The long column of vehicles was escorted by a motley guard, -consisting of very old men and tiny boys armed with Sniders and sporting -guns of ancient pattern. - -'We soon passed out of the town and, crossing a small river, began to -crawl up a steep hill. The roads outside of Pretoria appear very much -neglected, but, of course, the money that should have been devoted to -general improvements was all spent in secret service or in preparations -for the war. We soon arrived at our destination. The building stands -halfway up the side of a hill, and is probably a much healthier place -than the Model School. Besides, the view is really pretty. To the -north, indeed, it is limited by the tops of two hills. Southward lies -Pretoria, a collection of large Government buildings and of small villas -amid masses of trees, nestling beneath a high range of hills, along the -crest of which rise the famous forts. The view on the west is merely a -vast plain which reaches to the horizon, and a large hill obliterates -any view to the east. - -'The place itself consists merely of a long white shanty with a fairly -large compound enclosed by formidable barbed-wire entanglements. Outside -are Opperman's house and the Zarps' tents. There are electric lights -all round the enclosure, making escape a matter of considerable -difficulty. Inside, the place looked more like a cattle-shed than -anything else. A long galvanised-iron building, divided into a -servants' compartment and kitchen, eating rooms, sleeping room, and -four small bath-rooms. The sleeping-hall is eighty-five by thirty yards -long and accommodates 120 officers, our beds being, roughly, a yard -apart. There is no flooring. The drains consist of open ditches, while -the sanitary arrangements are enough to disgust any civilised being. A -strong protest was at once sent in to the authorities, but I doubt that -it will have any effect. - -'_March_ 18*th.*--The greatest disadvantage of this place over the -Staats Model School is that we can get no news. - -'_March_ 22*nd.*--Gunning gave us a small baboon the other day, which -was very fierce at first, but has tamed wonderfully. There are many -different kinds of curious insects here, not curious for this country, -of course, but which I have never seen before. The "Praying Mantis" or -"Kaffir God" is one of the queerest. The whole place seems to be a -large ants' nest, and we have often witnessed great fights between the -different kinds. Snakes also abound. A night-adder was killed the other -day. It was about thirteen or fourteen inches long and very poisonous, -so Gunning says. - -'We hear Gunning and Opperman are going to the front to-morrow. I am -very sorry for the former, though the departure of the latter is a great -advantage. - -'_March_ 23*rd.*--The Zarps and Opperman departed for the front this -morning. Their place was taken by a new guard selected from the -Hollander Corps. The Commandant is a pleasant fellow and a great -improvement on Opperman. - -'_March_ 25*th.*--We had service as usual this morning. This evening an -attempt to escape was going to be made by Ansell and Co., but it never -came off. There has been no news of Haldane and the others, so I -suppose they are well away by now. This evening the new Commandant had -roll-call. We call him "Pyjamas," because he wears a suit of clothes for -all the world like a pair of pyjamas. His real name is Westernant. - -'_March_ 30*th.*--There has not been anything very important to record -for some days. On Tuesday an attempt to escape was made by Best. While -one sentry was gossiping with another he crept under the barbed wire. As -luck would have it, when Best had got half way through, the sentry -finished his _tete-a-tete_ and returned to his post. At first he -thought Best was a dog and called out _footsack_,[#] but seeing he was a -human being, merely told him to go back. He might have shot him with -some excuse, so Best was lucky in striking a kind-hearted man. - - -[#] Be off. - - -'On Wednesday Joubert died. In respect to him we sent a wreath. I -don't think this will have any effect on the war, as (and the papers say -as much) his moderate attitude in the recent crisis had taken away much -of his popularity. - -'_April_ 3*rd.*--Hurrah! the papers this evening report the safe arrival -of Haldane, Le Mesurier and Brockie at Lourenco Marques, having -travelled through Swaziland. We were so glad to hear this news. Alas! -We also hear that sixteen officers arrive to-morrow, and that seven guns -were captured with them. - -'The Cullingworth girls came up this evening and signalled with a -handkerchief that Mafeking had been relieved. I hope it is true. We -all admire the pluck of those girls. We have already collected a large -subscription to get them and the Dogman handsome presents. - -'There was a large swarm of locusts yesterday. So thick was the cloud -that it quite obliterated the view of the distant hills. They continued -passing over nearly all day. - -'_April_ 5*th.*--The prisoners arrived this morning. They mostly belong -to U Battalion, R.H.A.; some to the M.I. and Cavalry. I have not quite -gathered the circumstances of their capture, but they seem to have been -caught in a trap, owing to the want of the ordinary precautions. The -convoy and one battery were practically held up without firing a shot, -but the other battery got away. When marched off they heard that -another British force was pursuing so that the guns may be recaptured. - -'They bring very little news; apparently they have heard nothing about -the relief of Mafeking, though Warren was on his way thereto. Roberts -has been delayed in his advance for the want of horses, but as this has -been remedied the forward movement should begin shortly. Had the horses -not been so done after Abram's Kraal, they say De Wet would have been -caught and the war over. Such is the fashion of war. If so-and-so had -happened--always "if"! - -'There was great excitement this evening caused by an attempted escape. -The electric wires had been tampered with, and at about 10.30, by some -device, Home, a colonial, who is also an electrician, made the current -travel on a shorter circuit, thus blowing out the main fuse and -extinguishing all the lights round the building. Hardly had this -happened than two shots were fired in quick succession, and then -another. The escape failed, but all got back into the building -unwounded. Apparently the lights had gone down, then up for a second, -then finally out. - -'During the momentary flash Hockley, of the escapees, had been seen and -fired at. However, "All's well that ends well," though some say that two -bullets went through the dining-room. Sentries were doubled for the -night and patrols sent out. - -'_April_ 6*th.*--How the fortunes of war vary! We seem to be going -through a series of small disasters. To-day the papers have the report -of a "Brilliant Boer Victory, thirty-six miles south-east of -Bloemfontein; 450 prisoners!!!" The only hope is that the account is -not "official." But we must be ready for the worst. The leading -article says: "Within a few days Roberts will be forced to evacuate the -Free State. _His retreat from Bloemfontein will be like Napoleon's -retreat from Moscow_." - -'_April_ 11*th.*--The prisoners reported captured some time ago have not -arrived yet. They always seem to be "expected to arrive somewhere," but -apparently have not yet been actually seen by anybody. On Saturday -their capture was reported officially. On Thursday English wires said -that 300 Royal Irish were surrounded. To-day they say the prisoners are -expected at Pretoria to-morrow! Well, we shall see. - -'The last few days we have had many good rumours about the capture of -Boers and British victories. To-day the papers say that Lord Methuen is -advancing on Boshof (he must be there by now), and that Colonel de -Villebois has been killed. He apparently and his men (100, so they -say--probably 500) were all killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. A -distinguished ex-French officer and his foreign legion is a good bag. - -'The next piece of information is, quoting from Boer paragraphs or head -lines, "Fifteen hundred English in a corner;" "Brabant's Horse in a -trap." Then, again, "There is every hope of their surrender." So much -for this. But on the Dutch side we read that all telegraphic -communication with Ladybrand and the south has been cut, so I rather -fancy the Boers have over-reached themselves for once. - -'The Boers have attacked our camps at Elandslaagte, and because, when -they shelled, our camp tents were struck, they report that the British -fled. I wonder if Le Mesurier was in this show. - -'In all these fights, as usual, the Boers "By the grace of God had -(about) one man killed and four wounded." This is heavy; generally it -is one horse and three mules. "The enemy," of course, "must have lost -heavily." So the paragraphs run on. Many are the funny expressions. -"One brave burgher succumbed to the explosion of a bomb." "One of our -guns _in firing_ damaged its sight and one of its wheels!" They always -end up with "Our burghers are full of courage, and determined to -withstand the enemy to the last." - -'Various officials came up the day before yesterday to inquire into the -causes of the protest we had sent in, signed by all the officers here. -They promised that everything would be seen to; but they are all--well -they are Boer officials, and I doubt if our lot is to be in any way -improved. - -'The weather is getting much colder now, though the sun is still hot by -day. A few stray shots whistled over the building to-day, probably -"accidentally on purpose." I hope they do not begin sniping regularly. - -'_April_ 12*th.*--Alas! my hopes were doomed to disappointment. Eight -prisoners arrived. They are mostly of the Irish Rifles; unlucky -regiment, twice the victims of misfortune! There is among them a gunner -who was on the staff. As usual, they bring little news, except a vivid -account of their own "show," which happened when they were on a -bill-posting expedition.[#] A cart-load of packing cases came in to-day -for the prisoners of war. Seven tons have already been sent to -Waterval. These cases contained papers, books, cigars, cigarettes, -tobacco and groceries, for which we were very thankful, the more so to -feel that the people at home had not forgotten the unhappy prisoners of -war. - - -[#] Distributing the proclamation. - - -'Since the new year one of the chief topics of discussion and bets has -been: "When the war will be over." We have, alas! always underestimated -the length of our stay here; had the prophecies of the more sanguine -come true, we would have been free long ago. Some put the date of our -release at the Queen's birthday; others later, and a few earlier. -Personally, I have learnt since I have been here the impossibility of -predicting what the future has in store. The day will surely come, -though would that we knew the date, be it months hence, for we might -then cross off the days as they passed. - -'_April_ 17*th.*--The papers have given no news for a considerable time. -But rumours of the wildest description have been spread. Ever since -Friday last rumour has persisted in De Wet's capture, and, indeed, it -seems possible, even probable; having succeeded in two captures, General -De Wet was not likely to be allowed to take another bag without some -counter move on Lord Roberts's part. The papers to-day say nothing on -the English side about De Wet, except that no news has been received -from him for a considerable time; but the Dutch columns express anxiety -as to his whereabouts. He had surrounded Brabant, they say, but strong -columns came out of Bloemfontein, and to-day no news has been got, or, -indeed, can be got, from the lost General. Rumour also has it that -Lucas Meyer has been captured on the Natal side. - -'I have been continuing my sketches and caricatures pretty regularly. I -have also been reading more lately. Being Easter week, Mr. Hofmeyr held -a service on Good Friday, and administered the Holy Communion on Easter -Sunday. Easter Sunday! If somebody had told me when first captured that -I should still be in prison on Easter Sunday, I should have thought him -mad, or expected to go mad myself. 'Tis well we know not the future, -but always live on hopes of early release. - -'I have written and received a good many letters. I think I am quite -reforming in the way of letter writing--that is, I am getting into the -way of writing four pages of tolerably sensible stuff on nothing at all, -which is a sure sign of a good correspondent. - -'Talking of being a prisoner, we have heard more of those fortunate -escaped Fortunate! One cannot but think them lucky, and envy them, now -they are free, with the just credit for their escape. But how many -hardships had they to suffer? Well, to come to the point. Davy has -just returned from hospital, where he saw Haldane's account of his -escape in the "Standard and Diggers' News." The trains did not seem to -fit in, and our friends had a lot of walking to do. Le Mesurier -sprained his ankle; food ran out, and they had to live on Kaffir food. -Finally, getting into a coal truck, where they were nearly discovered, -they crossed the border at Komati Poorte. I envy them; but such success -cannot be got without daring. Luck has certainly followed them, but I -think their patience underground won Fortune's favour. - -'We hear from Davy that the Dogman and Cullingworth are prisoners, -having been arrested when trying to escape to the British lines. Poor -fellows! Though, as our friends at home say of us, "They are safer in -prison than at the front." This saying always irritates me. Every -letter hints at it, as if safety were the chief reward one hoped to get -during a war; one cannot help feeling bitter, though our imprisonment is -only the payment for our very lives. - -'_April_ 19*th.*--Roulette is in full swing here. The arrangements are -most ingenious, and the dining-room after dinner is a regular Monte -Carlo. - -'We had a large mess meeting to-day to appoint a new mess committee, and -to discuss various questions as regards the expenses, etc. It was a -very amusing assembly, rather too frivolous to carry any real motions. -Most of the speeches wandered off the point, and we finally dispersed -without deciding anything of importance. One thing was, however, -serious. Colonel Hunt appealed for further subscriptions for the sick -soldiers in hospital. They are apparently entirely supported by -charity, and by our subscriptions. The Transvaal Government (although -boasting to be civilised) does not even supply beds! This fact might, -perhaps, disillusion some who are so taken in by Boer cant. - -'_May_ 8*th.*--We have had an immense amount of news lately. Roberts -has begun his big advance. Brandfort is in our hands, also Winburg. -The force advancing _via_ Boshof has reached Hoopstad, while the British -have crossed the Vaal at Fourteen Streams. De Wet has not been heard of -for a considerable time. So much is acknowledged in the papers. -Rumours say that we are behind Kroonstadt!! That De Wet, Steyn, and -8,000 Boers have been taken!! The English in the town think we shall be -released by the 24th of May. A panic seems to have seized the Boers, -and excited meetings have been held. Kruger summoned the Volksraad on -Sunday, and addressed them in stirring words, which, while acknowledging -the serious nature of the situation, exhorted the burghers to continue -the struggle trusting in the Lord. General Schalk Burger, while -addressing the townspeople, said that a stand might yet be made, if not, -the independence of the Republic was at an end. The Church of Pretoria -has addressed petitions for peace to the Churches of Great Britain and -of Europe and America. They pray that this unholy bloodshed may cease. -Kruger says "Continue the struggle to the end." Is it for England or -for Kruger to give in? - -'We have started a newspaper; it is progressing. We call it the "Gram," -because at the Staats Model School all our news came in under the -popular names of signal-gram (when news was signalled), Kaffir-gram -(when brought through the Kaffir). Brockiegram (when Brockie succeeded -in getting information from the Zarps), and so forth. Rosslyn is editor; -Major Sturges sub-editor. White, R.A., Wake, 5th Fusiliers, and I, are -the artists. The paper has been all written out by Rosslyn, and is now -being hectographed. We hope to bring out seventy good copies of the -first number. - -'_May_ 13*th.*--Though two or three prisoners have arrived lately, we -can get no particular details of the news. There is no doubt that a -general advance has been begun, but what point our troops have reached -is uncertain. Also, it is still a question whether De Wet is captured -or not. This morning the most serious rumour came in, to the effect -that Mafeking had fallen, but I can scarcely believe it. - -'Yesterday Mr. Hofmeyr received the welcome order to pack up his things -and go. He seemed very affected at saying good-bye and nearly broke -down. We all liked him very much, and bade him a hearty farewell, -cheering him as he left the enclosure, and singing "He's a jolly good -fellow." We shall miss him as well as his services. - -'Our paper came out yesterday and was a great success. We hope to bring -out a new one on the Queen's Birthday, though it is an awful labour. - -'Life has not been so bad lately. Buoyed up with hope of a speedy -release, and occupied with the "Gram," time has passed, in my case, more -quickly. We had a selling lottery the other day for the day of our -release. The dates ranged from the 15th of May to the 15th of August. -The Queen's Birthday was much in request, while "the field" (any day -after August 15th) went for six pounds. - -'The "Volksstem," of course, progresses as usual. Having exhausted all -other insults on England, they commenced lately on the Queen! During -the present British advance the mendacious powers of the editor are once -more brought to trial, and once more he has not been found wanting. The -burghers are full of courage (running everywhere); even the women wish -to fight! There was, indeed, a rumour that our present guard was to be -commandeered and the women put here to look after us. Poor time for us! -I fancy we should be all shot! The Volksraad sat the other day, and -after Kruger and others quoting a few scriptures the session of 1900 was -closed after sitting two days! - -'_May_ 14*th.*--So much news has arrived to-day, that I think I had -better inscribe it, while I remember. This morning came the rumour that -a good many Boers actually did get into Mafeking, but, being -unsupported, still remain there. This evening's "Volksstem" is truly a -wonder. It gives more news than it ever has given before. An attack -was made on Mafeking. The Boers took a "fort," but were attacked by -night, and lost seven killed and "some" wounded and prisoners. At -present Carrington and Plumer are proceeding to Mafeking by train, so -that it must have been relieved. Everywhere the Boers fly, and the -British troops entered Kroonstadt on the 11th inst. Hunter, with his -25,000 men, drove the enemy back at Warrenton, and "the Boers are unable -to resist the advance of the forces at Vryburg." - -'"But," says the "Volksstem," "the fact that Kroonstadt is in the hands -of the enemy need create no alarm. As we retire our line of defence -becomes less and our commandos can be concentrated to resist more -effectually the advance of the British forces. Besides, many things may -happen which will put an entirely new face on the war. Our delegation -has reached America, &c., &c. Lord Roberts' hastened advance is said to -be caused by his desire to reach Pretoria on the Queen's Birthday, but -might not the real reason be the fear of foreign intervention? Lord -Roberts wishes to strike a decisive blow before his forces are needed -elsewhere. Every day's delay is, therefore, an advantage to our cause. -Courage is all that is needed, &c., &c." - -'The above is a _precis_ of the "Volksstem" leading article. Still they -harp on foreign intervention, but from what I gather from recent -Continental criticisms on the war, I fancy their chances in this line -are less than at the beginning of the war. As to the burghers' courage, -I doubt if the majority of them have much left. For many months the -Transvaal Government have whipped their subjects to the fight; but even -the worm will turn, and to the simplest, or the most ignorant, the -Government promises and hopes must seem vain. - -'The day of our release is, perhaps, approaching; but it does not do to -be too sanguine; one never knows where a check may occur. Still I -"plump" on the end of the present month. - -'_May_ 20*th.*--The month is drawing to a close, and the day of our -release is still a matter of speculation. News is pretty plentiful; -even the "Volksstem" tries to hide nothing. Roberts has made a great -advance, but whether he has halted at Kroonstadt or not is uncertain. -We all hoped he would not stop until he had reached Pretoria. - -'We have been very much alarmed lately at the rumoured intention of the -Government to move us to Lydenburg, but at present it is only a rumour. -If we are moved we shall have every prospect of being shunted about the -country with guerilla bands of Boers who would keep us merely as -hostages, if, however, we are kept here we shall have every chance of -being released during the siege of Johannesburg. The Boers, it is said, -have decided to hold that place and are not going to blow up the mines. -The defence of Pretoria would be impossible with the troops at their -disposal. - -'Life goes on as usual. The only diversion that has lately occurred was -the athletic sports, which were got up by some energetic people. The -event took place yesterday, and, on the whole, was a decided success. -The chief feature, however, of the day was the betting. Several -enterprising officers kept books, but Haig, of the Inniskilling -Dragoons, cut the best figure in that line, and it was chiefly owing to -his amusing performance that the day was a success. White has made an -excellent sketch of "Our Bookie" for the next "Gram" number. - -'The sermon this morning is worth recording. The Rev. Mr. Bateman -delivered a most extraordinary speech as part of his service. Whether -it was meant for our spiritual edification, or merely intended to convey -news to us under the disguise of a text, was not quite certain; but, by -preaching on the text that begins "as cold water is to the thirsty soul, -so is good news, &c.," he led us to believe that we were to be released -in a very short time. - -'Roulette has been going very strong. Large sums have been lost and won. - -'_May_ 25*th.*--Yesterday we, prisoners of war, joined with the British -Empire all over the world in the celebration of the Queen's Birthday. -In our little enclosure we have quite a representative British -Empire--English, Scotch, and Irish soldiers, Colonials, South Africans, -Australians, and civilians, and, indeed, we only require a Canadian to -complete the list. - -'Yesterday evening we drank the Queen's health in light port (rather -nasty). The first drops of wine or spirit I had tasted since the 18th -of November. This was followed by "God Save the Queen," sung by all -with a heartiness and feeling that I never heard before. It must have -sounded very well outside. To us it was as it were "giving vent" to our -imprisoned feelings, while we also found in it a link with our country, -from which we have for so many months been severed. - -'It is now pretty certain that Roberts is resting his troops, and -rumours have it that the Boers have asked for an armistice. Whether Lord -Roberts celebrated the Queen's Birthday by a victory or a peaceful -armistice remains to be seen. - -'The "Volksstem" considers that it would be a graceful act on the part -of the State President if he were to wire the Queen and offer her as a -birthday present the unconditional release of all the British prisoners -of war. As the "Volksstem" is the official organ, this may quite -possibly be merely a feeler to the public (if public there be in this -country). At any rate it would be an act worthy of the wily Boer. He -finds it a source of trouble and expense feeding and guarding 5,000 -prisoners, so he gives them away with a pound of tea--I mean as a -graceful act. Whether the offer would be accepted is uncertain. But we -at any rate will be very happy if the Transvaal Government puts us over -the border. - -'The weather (by day) is simply perfect. Every morning the lovely air -makes one long for a walk or ride, and causes one to chafe at the -inability to roam beyond the one hundred yards' enclosure. We are -henceforth to be allowed to have wine, but personally I shall wait for -freedom before I indulge in that luxury again. The second number of the -"Gram" came out yesterday, and, I believe, was much appreciated.' - -'_May_ 26*th.*--Two prisoners of war arrived this morning. They were -caught at Lindley, which the Boers have apparently reoccupied. They -were taken across country to the Natal railway, and then conveyed -straight to Pretoria. They say they have heard firing at the Vaal, so I -suppose Lord Roberts is there. The Boers hold a strong position south -of Johannesburg, and they also intend defending that town. One of the -De Wets is still on the right rear of our army, but will be dealt with -by Rundle's division which is coming up that way. It is said that De -Wet at one time offered to surrender on condition that he himself should -not be made a prisoner. But Roberts would receive none but an -unconditional surrender. Buller has been ordered to force Laing's Nek -at all costs. The "Volksstem" says that Lord Roberts's headquarters are -at Honningspruit, some way north of Kroonstadt, but this is probably -news of some days' standing. There is also a rumour that our troops have -occupied Potchefstroom. - -'_May_ 19*th.*--At last our release seems near at hand. Yesterday and -to-day big guns were heard plainly in the direction of Johannesburg, -which is now in our hands. Boscher, the grocer, has just arrived, having -come up by the last train. He says that the Dragoons were actually in -the streets when he left. I fancy to-morrow or next day will see us -out. Everybody is in the best of spirits and full of excitement. - -'Greatest excitement during dinner. Mr. Hay and Mr. Wood came in and -asked Colonel Hunt to send twenty-four officers to Waterval to look -after the men. Kruger has gone to Holland. The British are expected -here to-morrow, and we shall be free! We sang "God Save the Queen" and -cheered Hay and the Commandant, who made a very nice speech, saying he -hoped to shake hands with us outside. Oh! how I longed to see the old -regiment once more! The Commandant says that there is still fighting at -Klipdrift, but a force of 4,000 men has broken through and come here. I -believe there is a lot of looting going on in the town now. Roulette is -at an end. I can scarcely write coherently, so excited am I. Fancy -being free; I can scarcely believe it! Six and a half months' -imprisonment, and about to be freed! Thank God! - -'_May_ 31*st.*--Too premature were our hopes. Yesterday and to-day have -been spent in awful suspense. Distant guns have been heard, Boers have -been seen riding about, and rumours of all kinds and descriptions are -rife. It is too awful this final suspense. We do nothing in hope of a -speedy release, and we pass the day anxiously scanning the horizon for -the approach of troops. - -'All day commandos have gone through the town, and one was seen on the -plain coming in from Mafeking. One commando came up our way, and we -were rather surprised that they made no attempt to shoot us. Indeed -there was nothing to prevent them. Three prisoners came in. They were -caught in or near Johannesburg. That town was officially surrendered at -10 A.M. this morning. The Boers intend making a sort of stand (one of -their usual ten-minute affairs I suppose) at Irene, a place six miles -south of Pretoria, and a fight is expected there to-morrow. Their line -of flight is past our abode and Waterval, and I should not be surprised -if, unable to face and shoot armed men, some of these foreign ruffians -shoot a few prisoners. - -'The town is evidently to be handed over quietly. The "Volksstem" is -still covering a sheet of paper with print, but seems to take not the -slightest interest in the war. They speak of giving up Pretoria as one -of our papers might of a concert. Well, I suppose it will come at last, -but I shall heave a sigh of relief when it does! - -'_June_ 1*st.*--No sign of the British! But we expect to hear guns -to-morrow. There are plenty of rumours about--Roberts captured, French -killed, &c. There was a good deal of looting in the town yesterday, and -five men were shot. Our hopes of a few days ago have been somewhat -damped, and most of us put our release down at a week hence. - -'The "Volksstem" is remarkable. The editor is evidently wishful to -avoid his tarring and feathering, and scarcely speaks of the war at all. - -'_June_ 3*rd.*--I have almost given up looking forward to our release, -and have fallen back into the ordinary monotonous life. No guns have -been heard, and therefore no serious fighting can have taken place -anywhere near Pretoria. Rundle has been reported as having received a -check in the Free State, and Lord Roberts is said to be still in -Johannesburg; otherwise there is no news at all. Botha has taken -matters into his own hands, has kicked out the officials appointed by -Kruger, chosen a committee of his own, and has arranged the defence of -the positions outside the town. He has therefore made himself -practically President of what remains of the Transvaal. Kruger went off -with a million of hard gold, paying the Government officials with -dishonoured cheques on the National Bank, from which he has removed all -the money. Every one of his ministers thirsts for the old man's blood, -and perhaps it were best for him to go further than Middelburg. - -'_June_ 4*th.*--At about 8.30 this morning firing was heard at no great -distance, in the south-west direction--field-guns, "pom-poms," Maxims, -and even musketry. At about nine o'clock a shell was seen to burst on -an earthwork on a ridge of hills south of the town. Field-glasses and -telescopes were immediately brought out, and we were well entertained -for the rest of the day. Shrapnel burst all along the ridges, and -presently lyddite shells were planted on the hills. The firing seemed -very unmethodical, and the Boers made little or no reply. On the -western kopjes shrapnel was seen bursting all over the place, and we -expected the Infantry to attack them. But the lyddite shells were -certainly the most interesting. They burst with a tremendous noise, -throwing up clouds of brownish earth. For some time the forts seemed -the mark our gunners were aiming at, and these costly erections -certainly received their share--four shells pitching well inside the -west fort; but, later, the shells were directed on the eastern outskirts -of the town. Whether these were intended for the railway station, we -could not make out; but, otherwise, they seemed to have no object. At -about 4.30 the Boers were seen leaving the western ridges and trekking -at a remarkable pace across the plain, disappearing along the northern -road. The day's action was ended by a kind of _feu de joie_ of lyddite -shells, which struck the two forts and the surrounding hills. Then -peace ensued. The last few shots seemed to have been fired by guns -which were much closer than at the commencement of the bombardment, and -the flight of the projectiles, which we could distinctly hear, passed -from west to east, so that we hope our troops have occupied the hills on -the west. - -'The hills are burning to-night, and the scene is strangely illuminated -in honour of our approaching rescue. - -'_June_ 5*th.*--A day of strangely mingled hopes and fears. This -morning at about 1.30 the Commandant awoke us and ordered us to pack up -at once and prepare to march to the railway, whence we were to be -transported by train down the Delagoa Bay line to some station beyond -Middelburg. All were filled with consternation. To be hurried away -when release was so near at hand seemed too awful. Words cannot express -my feelings. At last we decided to refuse to go. Let them massacre us -if they dared. We reminded the Commandant of the promise made to the -officers the week before that if they restrained the men in Waterval -neither they nor the men should be transported. The Commandant replied -that he had his orders and must execute them, and he rose to leave the -building, but we refused to let him or his lieutenant go, and held them -both prisoners. The Commandant said that the guards would soon come in -to rescue him, but he eventually promised to do his best to save us from -being deported, if we set him free. Then, by Colonel Hunt's advice, for -we did not know when a commando might appear, we returned to bed--you -cannot shoot men in their beds. And so passed the anxious hours away -till dawn. With the first streaks of daylight we scanned the hills -anxiously for the British troops. We could see lines of men moving on -the race-course, but it was impossible to make out what they were. -Presently, at about half-past eight, two figures in khaki came round the -corner, crossed the little brook and galloped towards us. Were they -Boers come to order our removal?--The advance scouts, perhaps, of a -commando to enforce the order! or were they our friends at last? Yes, -thank God! One of the horsemen raised his hat and cheered. There was a -wild rush across the enclosure, hoarse discordant yells, and the -prisoners tore like madmen to welcome the first of their deliverers. - -'Who should I see on reaching the gate but Churchill, who, with his -cousin, the Duke of Marlborough, had galloped on in front of the army to -bring us the good tidings. It is impossible to describe our feelings on -being freed. I can scarcely believe it, after seven months' -imprisonment; the joy nearly made up for all our former troubles, and, -besides, the war is not yet over. - -'To close the scene we hoisted the Union Jack which Burrows (one of the -prisoners) had made by cutting up a Vierkleur, on the staff whence the -Transvaal colours had so long reminded us of our condition. I will not -write about the triumphal entry of Lord Roberts and the army into -Pretoria, because that has been already told by so many others. - -'The Dogman and Cullingworth shared our good fortune, both being -speedily released from the gaol where they had languished since their -attempt to get through to the British lines, and with this happy fact -let me end my record of so many weary days passed in uncertainty, -disappointment, and monotony, but borne, I hope, with patience, and -ending at last in joy.' - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - ACTION OF DIAMOND HILL - - - Pretoria: June 14. - - -The feeble resistance which the Boers offered to our advance from -Bloemfontein favoured the hope that with the fall of Pretoria they would -sue for peace, and after the almost bloodless capture of the town there -was a very general tendency to regard the war as practically over. The -troops who had been marching for so many days with Pretoria as their -goal, not unnaturally hoped that when that goal was achieved a period of -rest and refreshment would be given them. But the imperious necessities -of war demanded fresh efforts. - -The successes gained in the Free State by the redoubtable Christian De -Wet, and the cutting of the communications near Rhenoster, awoke -everyone to the fact that further exertions were required. Though the -Boers under Botha had made but a poor resistance in front of their -capital, they were encouraged by the news from the Free State to adopt a -more defiant attitude, and to make what we hope has been almost a final -effort. As to that I will not be sanguine; but it is certain that, -whereas on the 7th and 8th of June the Boer leaders in the Transvaal -were contemplating surrender, on the 9th and 10th they were making all -kinds of bold schemes to harass and even entrap the British army. - -On the 7th the news ran through the camp that Mrs. Botha had come -through the lines with some mission on her husband's behalf, and General -Schoeman had himself made very decided overtures. On the 8th, -therefore, an armistice was observed by both sides, and a conference on -Zwartskop, where Lord Roberts was to meet the Republican generals, was -arranged for the 9th; but when the 9th came circumstances had changed. -The Field-Marshal had actually his foot in the stirrup ready to ride to -the meeting-place, when a messenger arrived from Botha declining, unless -Lord Roberts had some new proposal to make, to enter into any -negotiations. The consequence of this was an immediate resumption of -active operations. - -The military situation was, briefly, that Lord Roberts's army was spread -around and in Pretoria in various convenient camping grounds, with the -greater part of its force displayed on the east and north-east sides of -the town; and that the Boers, under Botha and Delarey, to the number of -about 7,000, with twenty-five guns, held a strong position some fifteen -miles to the east astride the Delagoa Bay Railway. It was evident that -on any grounds, whether moral or material, it was not possible for the -conquering army to allow the capital to be perpetually threatened by the -enemy in organised force, and, indeed, to be in a state of semi-siege. - -With the intention, therefore, of driving the enemy from the -neighbourhood, and in the hope of capturing guns and prisoners, a large -series of combined operations was begun. Practically all the available -troops were to be employed. But the army which had marched from -Bloemfontein had dwindled seriously from sickness, from casualties, and, -above all, from the necessity of dropping brigades and battalions behind -it to maintain the communications. We have already seen how it was -necessary to leave the Fourteenth Brigade to hold Johannesburg, and now -the Eighteenth Brigade became perforce the garrison of Pretoria, thus -leaving only the Eleventh Division, the corps troops, and Ian Hamilton's -force free for field operations. - -The Eleventh Division numbered, perhaps, 6,000 bayonets with twenty -guns. Ian Hamilton's force had lost Smith-Dorrien's Brigade, which was -disposed along the line between Kroonstadt and Pretoria, and though -strengthened by the addition of Gordon's Cavalry Brigade did not number -more than 3,000 bayonets, 1,000 sabres, and 2,000 rifle-armed Cavalry, -with thirty guns. But the shrinkage had been greatest among the mounted -troops. French's command of a Cavalry Division, which should have been -some 6,000 mounted men, was scarcely, even with part of Hutton's Brigade -of Mounted Infantry, 2,000. The two Cavalry Brigades with Ian Hamilton -mustered together only 1,100 men, and Ridley's Mounted Infantry, whose -nominal strength was at least 4,000, was scarcely half that number in -actuality. Brigades, therefore, were scarcely as strong as regiments, -regiments only a little stronger than squadrons, and the pitiful--absurd -if it had not been so serious--spectacle of troops of eight and ten men -was everywhere to be seen. It must, therefore, be remembered that -though the imposing names of divisions and brigades might seem to -indicate a great and powerful force, the army at Lord Roberts's disposal -was really a very small one. - -The enemy's position ran along a high line of steep and often -precipitous hills, which extend north and south athwart the Delagoa Bay -line about fifteen miles east from Pretoria, and stretch away -indefinitely on either side. The plan of the Field-Marshal was to turn -both flanks with Cavalry forces, and to endeavour to cut the line behind -the Boers, so that, threatened by the attack of the Infantry in front, -and their retreat compromised, they would have to fall back, probably -without being able to save some, at least, of their heavy guns. - -French was directed to make a wide sweep round the enemy's right flank -north of the railway. Pole-Carew, with the Eighteenth Brigade and the -Guards, was to advance frontally along the railway; Ian Hamilton to move -parallel to him about six miles further south; and Broadwood, who, with -the rest of the mounted troops, formed part of Hamilton's force, was to -endeavour to turn the enemy's left. It was felt that, important as were -the objects to be gained, they scarcely justified a very large sacrifice -of life. But though the Field-Marshal would be content with the retreat -of the enemy, both Cavalry forces were intended to press hard inward. - -On the 11th, the whole army was in motion. French on the extreme left -of the British front, which was extended from flank to flank about -sixteen miles, soon came in contact with the Boers, occupying strong -defensive positions, and he became sharply engaged. During the day he -continued to persevere, but it was not until nightfall that he was able -to make any progress. Pole-Carew, with the Eleventh Division, moved -eastward along the railway, extended in battle formation, and engaged -the enemy with his long-range guns, to which the Boers replied with -corresponding pieces, including a 6-in. gun mounted on a railway truck. -Though an intermittent bombardment continued throughout the day, the -operations in the centre were confined to a demonstration. - -Meanwhile Broadwood and Ian Hamilton, advancing on the right, found that -the Boers, besides occupying the whole line of the Diamond Hill plateau, -had also extended their left flank, which was composed of the Heidelburg -commando and other South Transvaal burghers, far beyond the reach of any -turning movement, and for this reason the operations to the British -right and right centre became of a piercing rather than of an enveloping -nature. Hamilton endeavoured to hold off the enemy's unduly extended -left by detaching a battalion, two field guns, and Gordon's Cavalry -Brigade with its horse battery, in the direction of the Tigerspoorte -ridges. Ridley's Brigade of Mounted Infantry curved inwards towards the -railway, and while these two forces struck out, like the arms of a -swimmer, Broadwood's Brigade was intended to push through the gap thus -made. - -A dropping musketry and artillery fire began shortly after eight o'clock -along the front of the force engaged in containing the Boers near -Tigerspoorte, and half an hour later Ridley's Brigade was engaged along -the southern slopes of Diamond Hill. Meanwhile, Broadwood was advancing -steadily to the eastward, and crossing a difficult spruit debouched into -a wide, smooth, grass plain, surrounded by hills of varying height, at -the eastern end of which was a narrow gap. Through this the line of -march to the railway lay. He became immediately engaged with the Boers -round the whole three-quarters of the circle, and a scattered action, -presenting to a distant observer no picturesque features, and yet -abounding in striking incidents, began. The Boers brought seven guns, -so far as we could observe, against him, and since the fire of these -pieces was of a converging nature, the Cavalry was soon exposed to a -heavy bombardment. - -In spite of this, Broadwood continued to push on. The country was well -suited for Cavalry action, and the gap, or 'poorte,' as it is called in -this country, plainly visible among the hills to the eastward, -encouraged him to try to break through. Accordingly, at about eleven -o'clock, he brought two horse-guns, under Lieutenant Conolly,[#] into a -very forward position, with the design of clearing his road by their -fire. The Boers, however, fought with a stubbornness and dash which had -long been absent from their tactics. They were in this part of the -field largely composed of Germans and other foreigners, of colonial -rebels, and of various types of irreconcilables. - - -[#] A younger brother of that brilliant officer of the Scots Greys, -whose death at Nitral Nek a few weeks later was so great a loss to his -friends, his regiment, and his country. - - -No sooner had these two guns come into action than a very ugly attack -was made on them. The ridge from which they were firing was one of -those gentle swells of ground which, curving everywhere, nowhere allows -a very extended view; and the Boers, about 200 strong, dashed forward -with the greatest boldness in the hope of bringing a close musketry fire -to bear on the gunners and of capturing their pieces. So sudden was the -attack that their heads were seen appearing over the grass scarcely 300 -yards away. In these circumstances the guns fired case shot, but though -they prevented the Boers from coming nearer, it was evident that the -position was still critical. Broadwood was compelled, therefore, to ask -the 12th Lancers to charge. - -[Illustration: PLAN OF THE OPERATIONS OF 11TH AND 12TH JUNE, 1900] - -The continual shrapnel fire of the last few hours had, in spite of their -dispersed formation, caused a good deal of loss among the horses of the -brigade. The Earl of Airlie, who was riding with the brigadier, had had -his horse shot under him, and had gone away to find another. He -returned to place himself at the head of his regiment just as it was -moving forward to the attack, and, perhaps unacquainted with the latest -development of the action, he gave a direction to the charge which was -slightly more northerly than that which Broadwood intended; so that, in -advancing, the regiment gradually came under the fire of the enemy -holding the lower slopes of Diamond Hill, instead of falling on those -who were directly threatening the guns. But it was a fine, gallant -manoeuvre, executed with a spring and an elasticity wonderful and -admirable in any troops, still more in troops who have been engaged for -eight months in continual fighting with an elusive enemy, and who must -have regarded any action, subsequent to the capture of Pretoria, rather -in the nature of an anti-climax. - -Its effect was instantaneous. Though the regiment scarcely numbered 150 -men, the Boers fled before them--those who were threatening the guns -towards the south, and those immediately in the line of the charge -eastward and northward, towards Diamond Hill. Had the horses been fresh -and strong a very severe punishment would have been administered to the -enemy; but with weary and jaded animals--many of them miserable -Argentines, and all worn out with hard work and scanty food--they were -unable to overtake the mass of fugitives who continued to fly before -them. A few, however, stood boldly, and one man remained firing his -rifle until the charge was close on him, when he shot Lieutenant Wright -dead at only a few yards distance, and then, holding up his hands, -claimed quarter. This was, however, most properly refused. Altogether -ten Boers perished by the lance, and the moral effect on those who -escaped must certainly have been considerable. But now in pursuit the -regiment gradually came nearer to the enemy's main position, and drew a -heavy fire on their left flank. - -Seeing this, and having obtained the object with which he had -charged--the immediate relief of the guns--Lord Airlie gave the order -'files about,' and withdrew his regiment before it became too seriously -involved. As he issued this command he was struck by a heavy bullet -through the body, and died almost immediately. So fell, while directing -his regiment in successful action, an officer of high and noble -qualities, trusted by his superiors, beloved by his friends, and -honoured by the men he led. The scanty squadrons returned in excellent -order to the positions they had won, having lost in the charge, and -mostly in the retirement, two officers, seventeen men, including a -private of the 10th Hussars, who managed to join in, and about thirty -horses. - -Meanwhile the pressure on Broadwood's right had become very severe. A -large force of Boers who were already engaging the 17th Lancers and the -rest of Gordon's Brigade, but who were apparently doubtful of attacking, -seeing the advance checked, now swooped down and occupied a kraal and -some grassy ridges whence they could bring a heavy enfilading fire to -bear. Broadwood, who throughout these emergencies preserved his usual -impassive composure, and whose second horse had been shot under him, -ordered the Household Cavalry to 'Clear them out.' - -The troopers began immediately to dismount with their carbines, and the -General had to send a second message to them, saying that it was no good -firing now, and that they must charge with the sword. Whereon, -delighted at this unlooked-for, unhoped-for opportunity, the Life -Guardsmen scrambled back into their saddles, thrust their hated carbines -into the buckets, and drawing their long swords, galloped straight at -the enemy. The Boers, who in this part of the field considerably -outnumbered the Cavalry, might very easily have inflicted severe loss on -them. But so formidable was the aspect of these tall horsemen, cheering -and flogging their gaunt horses with the flat of their swords, that they -did not abide, and running to their mounts fled in cowardly haste, so -that, though eighteen horses were shot, the Household Cavalry sustained -no loss in men. - -These two charges, and the earnest fashion in which they were delivered, -completely restored the situation; but though Broadwood maintained all -the ground he had won, he did not feel himself strong enough, in face of -the severe opposition evidently to be encountered, to force his way -through the poorte. - -At about noon the Field-Marshal, who was with the Eleventh Division, -observing an apparent movement of the enemy in his front, concluded that -they were about to retreat, and not wishing to sacrifice precious lives -if the strategic object were attained without, sent Ian Hamilton a -message not, unless the resistance of the enemy was severe, to weary his -men and horses by going too far. Hamilton, however, had seen how -closely Broadwood was engaged, and fearing that if he stood idle the -enemy would concentrate their whole strength on his Cavalry commander, -he felt bound to make an attack on the enemy on the lower slopes of -Diamond Hill, and so hold out a hand to Broadwood. - -He therefore directed Bruce-Hamilton to advance with the Twenty-first -Brigade. This officer, bold both as a man and as a general, immediately -set his battalions in motion. The enemy occupied a long scrub-covered -rocky ridge below the main line of hills, and were in considerable -force. Both batteries of artillery and the two 5-in. guns came into -action about two o'clock. The Sussex Regiment, moving forward, -established themselves on the northern end of the ridge, which was well -prepared by shelling, and while the City Imperial Volunteers and some -parts of the Mounted Infantry, including the Corps of Gillies, held them -in front, gradually pressed them out of it by rolling up their right. - -[Illustration: DIAGRAM EXPLAINING THE ACTION OF DIAMOND HILL] - -There is no doubt that our Infantry have profited by the lessons of this -war. The widely-extended lines of skirmishers moving forward, almost -invisible against the brown grass of the plain, and taking advantage of -every scrap of cover, presented no target to the Boer fire. And once -they had gained the right of the ridge it was very difficult for the -enemy to remain. - -Accordingly at 3.30 the Boers in twenties and thirties began to abandon -their position. Before they could reach the main hill, however, they had -to cross a patch of open ground, and in so doing they were exposed to a -heavy rifle fire at 1,200 yards from the troops who were holding the -front. - -From where I lay, on the left of the Gillies' firing line, I could see -the bullets knocking up the dust all round the retreating horsemen, -while figures clinging to saddles or supported by their comrades, and -riderless horses, showed that some at least of the bullets had struck -better things than earth. So soon as they reached fresh cover, the -Dutchmen immediately reopened fire, and two of the Gillies were wounded -about this time. - -The City Imperial Volunteers then occupied the whole of the wooded -ridge. One poor little boy, scarcely fourteen years old, was found shot -through the head, but still living, and his father, a very -respectable-looking man, who, in spite of his orders from the -field-cornet, had refused to leave his son, was captured; but with these -exceptions the Boers had removed their wounded and made good their -retreat to the main position. It being now nearly dark the action was -broken off, and having strongly picketed the ground they had won, the -Infantry returned to their waggons for the night. - -It was now imperative to carry the matter through, and in view of the -unexpected obstinacy of the enemy, the Field-Marshal directed Pole-Carew -to support Hamilton with the brigade of Guards in his attack the next -day. - -Early the next morning Hamilton's Infantry moved forward and re-occupied -the whole of the ground picketed the previous night. On the right De -Lisle's corps of Mounted Infantry prepared to attack; the Cavalry -maintained their wedge-like position, and exchanged shots all along -their front with the Boers; but no serious operations were begun during -the morning, it being thought better to await the arrival, or, at least, -the approach, of the brigade which had been promised. - -During this interval the Boers shelled our batteries heavily with their -long range 30-pounder guns, and General Ian Hamilton, who was sitting on -the ground with his Staff near the 82nd Field Battery, was struck by a -shrapnel bullet on the left shoulder. Fortunately, the missile did not -penetrate, but only caused a severe bruise with numbness and pain, which -did not, however, make it necessary for him to leave the field. The -case of this shell, which struck close by, ran twirling along the ground -like a rabbit--a very peculiar sight, the like of which I have never -seen before. - -At one o'clock the leading battalion of the Guards was observed to be -about four miles off, and Bruce-Hamilton's brigade was therefore -directed to attack. The Derbyshire Regiment, which had been briskly -engaged during the morning, advanced up a flat tongue of land on the -right. The City Imperial Volunteers moved forward in the centre, and -the Sussex on the British left. Though this advance was exposed to a -disagreeable enfilade fire from the Boer 'pom-pom,' the dispersed -formations minimised the losses, and lodgments were effected all along -the rim of the plateau. But once the troops had arrived here the fight -assumed a very different complexion. - -The top of the Diamond Hill plateau was swept by fire from a long rocky -kopje about 1,800 yards distant from the edge, and was, moreover, -partially enfiladed from the enemy's position on the right. The -musketry immediately became loud and the fighting severe. The City -Imperial Volunteers in the centre began to suffer loss, and had not the -surface of the ground been strewn with stones, which afforded good -cover, many would have been killed and wounded. Though it was not -humanly possible to know from below what the ground on top of the hill -was like--we were now being drawn into a regular rat-trap. It was quite -evident that to press the attack to an assault at this point would -involve very heavy loss of life, and, as the reader will see by looking -at the rough plan I have made, the troops would become more and more -exposed to enfilade and cross fire in proportion as they advanced. - -After what I had seen in Natal the idea of bringing guns up on to the -plateau to support the Infantry attack when at so close a range from the -enemy's position seemed a very unpleasant one. But General -Bruce-Hamilton did not hesitate, and at half-past three the 82nd Field -Battery, having been dragged to the summit, came into action against the -Boers on the rocky ridge at a distance of only 1,700 yards. - -This thrusting forward of the guns undoubtedly settled the action. The -result of their fire was immediately apparent. The bullets, which had -hitherto been whistling through the air at the rate of perhaps fifteen -or twenty to the minute, and which had compelled us all to lie close -behind protecting stones, now greatly diminished, and it was possible to -walk about with comparative immunity. But the battery which had reduced -the fire, by keeping the enemy's heads down, drew most of what was left -on themselves. Ten horses were shot in the moment of unlimbering, and -during the two hours they remained in action, in spite of the protection -afforded by the guns and waggons, a quarter of the gunners were hit. -Nevertheless, the remainder continued to serve their pieces with -machine-like precision, and displayed a composure and devotion which won -them the unstinted admiration of all who saw the action. - -About four o'clock General Ian Hamilton came himself to the top of the -plateau, and orders were then given for the Coldstream Guards to prolong -the line to the left, and for the Scots Guards to come into action in -support of the right. Two more batteries were also brought forward, and -the British musketry and artillery being now in great volume, the Boer -fire was brought under control. Ian Hamilton did not choose to make the -great sacrifices which would accompany an assault, however, nor did his -brigadier suggest that one should be delivered, and the combatants -therefore remained facing each other at the distance of about a mile, -both sides firing heavily with musketry and artillery, until the sun -sank and darkness set in. - -General Pole-Carew, who with the Eighteenth Brigade was still -responsible for containing the Boer centre across the railway, now rode -over to Hamilton's force, and plans were made for the next day. It must -have been a strange experience for these two young commanders, who, -fifteen years ago, had served together as aides-de-camp on Lord -Roberts's staff, to find themselves now under the same chief designing a -great action as lieutenant-generals. It was decided that Hamilton's -force should move further to the right and attack on the front, which, -on the 12th, had been occupied by De Lisle's corps of Mounted Infantry, -that the brigade of Guards should take over the ground which the -Twenty-first Brigade had won and were picketing, and that the Eighteenth -Brigade, which was now to be brought up, should prolong the line to the -left. But these expectations of a general action on the morrow were -fortunately disappointed. Worsted in the fire fight, with three parts -of their position already captured, and with the lodgment effected by -Colonel De Lisle's corps on the left threatening their line of retreat, -the Boers shrank from renewing the conflict. - -During the night they retreated in good order from the whole length of -the position which they occupied, and marched eastward along the railway -in four long columns. When morning broke and the silence proclaimed the -British the victors, Hamilton, in order to carry out his original -orders, marched northward and struck the railway at Elandsfontein -station, where he halted. The Mounted Infantry and Cavalry were hurried -on in pursuit, but so exhausted were their horses that they did not -overtake the enemy. - -Such were the operations of the 11th, 12th, and 13th of June, by which, -at a cost of about 200 officers and men, the country round Pretoria for -forty miles was cleared of the Boers, and a heavy blow dealt to the most -powerful force that still keeps the field in the Transvaal. - -After the action of Diamond Hill the whole army returned to Pretoria, -leaving only a Mounted Infantry corps to hold the positions they had won -to the eastward. French and Pole-Carew, whose troops had marched far and -fought often, were given a much-needed rest. Ian Hamilton, whose force -had marched further and fought more than either, was soon sent off on -his travels again. The military exigencies forbade all relaxation, and -only three days' breathing space was given to the lean infantry and the -exhausted horses. By the unbroken success of his strategy Lord Roberts -had laid the Boer Republics low. We had taken possession of the Rand, -the bowels whence the hostile Government drew nourishment in gold and -munitions of war. We had seized the heart at Bloemfontein, the brain at -Pretoria. The greater part of the railways, the veins and nerves, that -is to say, was in our hands. Yet, though mortally injured, the trunk -still quivered convulsively, particularly the left leg, which, being -heavily booted, had already struck us several painful and unexpected -blows. - -To make an end two operations were necessary: first, to secure the -dangerous limb, and, secondly, to place a strangling grip on the -windpipe somewhere near Komati Poorte. The second will, perhaps, be the -business of Sir Redvers Buller and the glorious Army of Natal. The -first set Hamilton's Brigades in motion as part of an intricate and -comprehensive scheme, which arranged for the permanent garrisoning of -Frankfort, Heilbron, Lindley, and Senekal, and directed a simultaneous -movement against Christian De Wet by four strong flying columns. - -I had determined to return to England; but it was with mixed feelings -that I watched the departure of the gallant column in whose good company -I had marched so many miles and seen such successful fights. Their road -led them past Lord Roberts's headquarters, and the old Field-Marshal -came out himself to see them off. First the two Cavalry Brigades -marched past. They were brigades no longer; the Household Cavalry -Regiment was scarcely fifty strong; in all there were not a thousand -sabres. Then Ridley's 1,400 Mounted Infantry, the remnants of what on -paper was a brigade of nearly 5,000; thirty guns dragged by skinny -horses; the two trusty 5-inch 'cow-guns' behind their teams of toiling -oxen; Bruce-Hamilton's Infantry Brigade, with the City Imperial -Volunteers, striding along--weary of war, but cheered by the hopes of -peace, and quite determined to see the matter out; lastly, miles of -transport: all streamed by, grew faint in the choking red dust, and -vanished through the gap in the southern line of hills. May they all -come safely home. - - - - - APPENDIX - - - _COMPOSITION OF LIEUT.-GENERAL IAN HAMILTON'S FORCE_ - - - DIVISIONAL STAFF - - LIEUTENANT-GENERAL IAN HAMILTON. - C.B., D.S.O. - -_A.D.C.s_--Captain de Heriez Smith. - Captain Balfour, late 11th Hussars. - Captain Maddocks, R.A. - Captain Duke of Marlborough, I.Y. - -_A.A.G._--Lieut.-Colonel Le Gallais, 8th Hussars. - -_D.A.A.G.s_--Captain Vallentin, Somerset L.I. - Captain Gamble, Lincoln Regiment. - Captain Atcherley, A.S.C. - Captain Kirkpatrick, R.E. - -_Provost Marshal_--Captain Sloman, East Surrey Regiment. - -_Div. Signalling Officer_--Captain Ross, Norfolk Regiment. - -_P.M.O._--Colonel Williams, N. S. Wales A.M.C. - -_Divisional Troops_--Rimington's Guides under Major Rimington, -Inniskilling Dragoons. - - - 2ND MOUNTED INFANTRY BRIGADE - - BRIGADIER-GENERAL R. RIDLEY - -_A.D.C._--Captain Hood, Coldstream Guards. - -_Brigade Major_--Lieut-Colonel Mitford, East Surrey Regiment. - -_Staff Officers_--Captain Sir T. MacMahon, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. - Captain Eustace Crawley, 12th Lancers. - - - 2ND MOUNTED INFANTRY CORPS - - Lieut.-Colonel de Lisle, Commanding Durham Light Infantry. - -_Staff Officer_--Captain Fanshawe, Oxford L.I. - -_6th M.I. Battalion_--Captain Pennefather, Welsh Regiment. - -_New South Wales Mounted Rifles_. - -_West Australians_. - -1 Pom-pom. - - - 5TH MOUNTED INFANTRY CORPS - - Lieut.-Colonel Dawson, I.S.C. - -_Staff Officer_--Captain Ballard, Norfolk Regiment. - -_5th M.I. Battalion_--Major Lean, Warwick Regiment. - -_Roberts' Horse_--Captain Baumgartner, East Lancashire Regiment. - -_Marshall's Horse_--Captain Corbett. - -_Ceylon M.I._--Major Rutherford, - -1 Pom-pom. - - - 6TH MOUNTED INFANTRY CORPS - - Lieut.-Colonel Legge, 20th Hussars. - -_Staff Officer_--Captain Hart, East Surrey Regiment. - -_2nd M.I. Battalion_--Major Dobell. - -_Kitchener's Horse_--Major Cookson, I.S.C. - -_Lovat's Scouts_--Major A. Murray. - -1 Pom-pom. - - - 7TH MOUNTED INFANTRY CORPS - - Lieut.-Colonel Bainbridge, Buffs. - -_Staff Officer_--Captain Hamilton, Oxford L.I. - -_7th M.I. Battalion_--Major Welch. - -_Burmah M.I._--Captain Copeman. - -1 Pom-pom. - - - P BATTERY - -_Ammunition Column_--Major Mercer, R.H.A. - -_Bearer Company and Field Hospital_--New South Wales Army Medical Corps. - - - 2ND CAVALRY BRIGADE - - BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROADWOOD - -_A.D.C._--Captain Aldridge, R.H.A. - -_Brigade-Major_--Captain Hon. T. Brand, 10th Hussars. - -_Signalling Officer_--Captain Sloane Stanley, 12th Lancers. - -_Household Cavalry_--Lieut.-Colonel Galley. - -_10th Lancers_--Lieut-Colonel Fisher. - -_12th Lancers_--Lieut.-Colonel Earl of Airlie. - -_Q Battery, R.A._ - -_Ammunition Column_--Captain Kincaid, R.A. - -_Bearer Company._ - -_Field Hospital._ - - - 19TH BRIGADE - - MAJOR-GENERAL SMITH-DORRIEN - -_A.D.C.s_--Captain Hood, R.M.L.I. - Lieut. Dorrien Smith, Shropshire L.I. - -_Brigade Major_--Major Inglefield, East Yorkshire Regiment. - -_74th Battery_--Major MacLeod. - -_2nd Duke of Cornwall L.I._--Lieut.-Colonel Ashby. - -_Shropshire L.I._--Lieut.-Colonel Spens. - -_Gordon Highlanders_--Lieut.-Colonel MacBean. - -_Royal Canadians_--Lieut.-Colonel Otter. - -_Bearer Company and Field Hospital._ - - - 21ST BRIGADE - - MAJOR-GENERAL BRUCE-HAMILTON - -_A.D.C._--Lieut. Frazer, Cameron Highlanders. - -_Brigade Major_--Major Shaw, Derbyshire Regiment. - -_76th Battery_--Major Campbell. - -_1st Royal Sussex_--Lieut.-Colonel Donne. - -_1st Derby_--Major Gossett. - -_1st Cameron_--Lieut.-Colonel Kennedy. - -_City Imperial Volunteers_--Brigadier-Colonel MacKinnon; Colonel The -Earl of Albemarle. - -_Bearer Company._ - -_Field Hospital._ - - - DIVISIONAL ARTILLERY - - LIEUT.-COLONEL WALDRON, R.F.A. - -_8lst Battery._ - -_82nd Battery_--Major Conolly. - -_1 Section of Five-inch guns_--Captain Massey. - -_Ammunition Column_--Captain Hardman. - - - EFFECTIVE FIGHTING STRENGTH - -11,000 Men. -4,600 Horses. -8,000 Mules. -36 Field guns. -2 Five-inch guns -23 Machine guns. -6 Pom-poms. - - -The force left Bloemfontein, April 22. -Arrived at Pretoria on June 5. -Distance traversed, 401 miles in a straight line. -Time on the march, 45 days. -Halts, 10 days. - -General actions on nine days: - Israel's Poorte, April 25. - Houtnek, April 30 and May 1. - Welkom, May 4. - Sand River, May 10. - Affair of Lindley, May 20. - Doornkop (Florida), May 29. - Six Mile Spruit (Pretoria), June 4. - Diamond Hill, June 11 and 12. - -Eighteen days' skirmishes. - -Towns captured: - Thabanchu. - Winburg. - Ventersburg. - Kroonstadt. - Lindley. - Heilbron. - Johannesburg. - Pretoria. - - - - -[Illustration: MAP OF MARCH FROM BLOEMFONTEIN TO PRETORIA (small -version)] - - - - -[Illustration: MAP OF MARCH FROM BLOEMFONTEIN TO PRETORIA (large -version)] - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK IAN HAMILTON'S MARCH *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41487 - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission -and without paying copyright royalties. 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